User Switching vs WP-Orphanage Extended (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
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Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP-Orphanage Extended has a higher user rating (5/5 from 5 reviews) while User Switching leads in active installations (200K+ vs 100). Both are free WordPress plugins. User Switching has accumulated 5.5M+ total downloads while WP-Orphanage Extended has 7.8K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | User Switching | WP-Orphanage Extended | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 238 | ◄ | 5 |
| Active Installs | 200K+ | ◄ | 100 |
| Total Downloads | 5.5M+ | ◄ | 7.8K+ |
| Support Resolution | 75% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 1 year ago |
| First Released | 2009 | 2012 | |
| Age | 17 years | 14 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.1+ | 4.9+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.11.2 | 1.3 |
Rating
4.9/5User Switching
►WP-Orphanage Extended5/5
Total Reviews
238User Switching
◄WP-Orphanage Extended5
Active Installs
200K+User Switching
◄WP-Orphanage Extended100
Total Downloads
5.5M+User Switching
◄WP-Orphanage Extended7.8K+
Support Resolution
75%User Switching
WP-Orphanage ExtendedN/A
Last Updated
1 month agoUser Switching
◄WP-Orphanage Extended1 year ago
First Released
2009User Switching
WP-Orphanage Extended2012
Age
17 yearsUser Switching
WP-Orphanage Extended14 years
WP Requires
6.1+User Switching
WP-Orphanage Extended4.9+
PHP Requires
7.4+User Switching
WP-Orphanage Extendedfalse+
Business Model
FreeUser Switching
WP-Orphanage ExtendedFree
Latest Version
1.11.2User Switching
WP-Orphanage Extended1.3
Rating Breakdown
User Switching
4.9/5(238 reviews)
5
97%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
1%
WP-Orphanage Extended
5/5(5 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Download Trends
Recent Reviews
User Switching Reviews
by CJW
Wonderful!
What a great plug in! Made my life so much easier – thank you!
by readysite
Dont work front
Dont work front
by Zrenjaninac
Great timesaving plugin
A real timesaver that I install every time I need to test out different user type roles.
WP-Orphanage Extended Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is User Switching or WP-Orphanage Extended more popular?
User Switching has 200K+ active installations while WP-Orphanage Extended has 100. User Switching is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — User Switching or WP-Orphanage Extended?
User Switching has a 4.9/5 rating from 238 reviews, while WP-Orphanage Extended has a 5/5 rating from 5 reviews.
Are User Switching and WP-Orphanage Extended free?
User Switching is free and WP-Orphanage Extended is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — User Switching or WP-Orphanage Extended?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
User Switching was last updated 1 month ago and WP-Orphanage Extended was last updated 1 year ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.