User Role Editor vs WP User Avatars (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, User Role Editor has a higher user rating (4.5/5 from 287 reviews) and leads in active installations (700K+ vs 20K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Role Editor has accumulated 21M+ total downloads while WP User Avatars has 313K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Role Editor | WP User Avatars | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 287 | ◄ | 29 |
| Active Installs | 700K+ | ◄ | 20K+ |
| Total Downloads | 21M+ | ◄ | 313K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 4 months ago | ► | 6 days ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2015 | |
| Age | 16 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.4+ | 5.2+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.3+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.64.6 | 1.4.1 |
Rating Breakdown
User Role Editor
WP User Avatars
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, User Role Editor averaged approximately 2,187 daily downloads while WP User Avatars averaged 53.
Recent Reviews
User Role Editor Reviews
Simple and works nicely
This plugin is working well. Thank you for the developer who put lot of time into it. Very nice, lightest and most simple.
Worked great for my site
I’m a DIY self learner, and had a great experience with URE. It has vast capabilities and is organized to make it easy to navigate and apply so many customizations. Very intuitive. On the one occasion
Wont save capabilities for custom role
I hate giving bad reviews as I know how much work goes into these plugins, often by one person. But we have wasted so much time and lost orders because of a known bug. I can see that others have rep
WP User Avatars Reviews
Replaces Gravatar
Very simplistic (which to some people is good) but not only do I want one that supplements Gravatar but has user support, this one is abandoned.
Does not replace WP User Avatar
A lot of people seem to think this replaces the former WP User Avatar… it does not. First, it appears that support is seriously lacking here… look at the numerous support questions left unanswered.
Nice and simple
Nice and simple plugin. Great replacement for the corrupt ProfilePress (previously WP User Avatar).
More User Worth Comparing
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Role Editor or WP User Avatars more popular?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.