Smart User Slug Hider
by WP User Manager · Security
Also makes 6 other plugins · 19.1K+ installs across the portfolio →
Hide usernames in Author Pages URLs to enhance Security
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 90/100
no flags
Active installs
2K+
≈3K estimated
Momentum
+42%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “author” and “author page” for “user” and “usernames”. “author” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “user” sits at #15 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “author page” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “usernames” sits at #17 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
90 health vs 66 average across 1,777 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →3.4%
of downloads still active
At least 2K of 58.5K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,060 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Security plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 2 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 8 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 55 reviews, smoothed to 4.52★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
3 of 3 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
41
Momentum
Mixed: one swing, the rest drifting
+0.5
Velocity
places per keyword, 23d
18%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 23d
+0.5
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| slug | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| hider | #1 | #1 | up 2 |
| hide username | #1 | #1 | — |
| page slug | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| author slug | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| smart | #9 | #10 | 0 |
| post slug | #4 | #4 | down 2 |
| smart id | #5 | #4 | 0 |
| user | #15 | #17 | down 4 |
| username your tag | #17 | #18 | down 1 |
| usernames | #17 | #17 | 0 |
| hide user | #8 | #9 | 0 |
| user id | #9 | #10 | up 9 |
| add user | #9 | #10 | — |
| user post | #15 | #18 | down 2 |
| wp user | #16 | #18 | up 1 |
| user plugin | #16 | #19 | down 1 |
| hide author | #23 | #15 | 0 |
| author your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| author page your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| permalink your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| security your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
65 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 18 listed. 47 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 4 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “author” and “author page” for “user” and “usernames”. “author” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “user” sits at #15 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “author page” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “usernames” sits at #17 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 5.3K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Occasionally updatedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
2
releases in the last 12 months
8d ago
latest release · v4.0.8 · 24 Oct 2026
3
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 100% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “2K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 23 days ago and the previous band took 20 months to cross, so the real count is still just under 3K.
Install history since 1 Sep 2018
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ briannie2.5y ago
What a pity that the author is retiring and feels he can no longer support this plugin because it really did do the job and very well indeed. I do hope someone will pick up the coding and get it working again. I notice now that some of my many websites are working fine but others I’ve had to delete the plugin as it’s causing a critical error making the site completely unusable as it’s unobtainable. There must be a conflict but I can’t see it. Correction is easy, it just means accessing the WP folders, finding this plugin and deleting the folder. I’ve not been able to find another plugin that so simply does what this one does. Any ideas anyone?
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Terrettgnome3.5y ago
Does exactly what it says and minimal set up required. Just what I needed, thanks! I had an idea inspired by a kids’ educational app that self-generates memorable passwords that might be good for a future iteration to make it more fun: instead of numbers, a noun phrase with a few random adjectives before. Just a thought.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ burneplasmafire3.6y ago
I used a different user slug hider in the past and when it stopped being updated I switched to this one.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mdmumin3.7y ago
Best apps. but needto update for seo that are gone wrong way to user link! please solve that.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ omgraj4.0y ago
Worked right out of the box on my BuddyBoss Theme. Thank you so much for creating this important plugin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ kryoz5074.0y ago
I like the plugin, is easy to use. I hope the plugin keep updated or improvement. This topic was modified 3 years, 8 months ago by kryoz507.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ doywil4.4y ago
Thanks for creating this simple and easy to use plugin. Excellent if you want to hide your usernames from the public.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ standew4.5y ago
Very good, easy to use
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2024-04-17 Version 4.0.6 Bugfix after Cleanup 4.0.6
- 2024-04-16 Version 4.0.5 Cleanup 4.0.5
- 2023-03-26 Version 4.0.3 do not rely on SERVER_ADDR only (see support ticket ) 4.0.3
- 2022-10-05 Version 4.0.4 removed all links to webiste removed request for rating 4.0.4
- 2022-05-28 Version 4.0.2 just cosmetics Plugin Foundation updated to PPF08 4.0.2
- 2020-08-23 Version 4.0.1 minor UI adjustments 4.0.1
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.5.2
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 3 languages, 0 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
4 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Hide usernames in Author Pages URLs to enhance Security"
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("use this"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ! Names what it works with Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 5 headings and 3 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,931 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "permalink" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-10-09 3K+ → 2K+ down after 613 days in tier
- 2025-02-03 4K+ → 3K+ down after 90 days in tier
- 2024-11-05 3K+ → 4K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2024-11-04 4K+ → 3K+ down after 856 days in tier
- 2022-07-02 3K+ → 4K+ up after 337 days in tier
- 2021-07-30 2K+ → 3K+ up after 626 days in tier
- 2019-11-12 1K+ → 2K+ up after 649 days in tier
- 2018-02-01 700+ → 1K+ up after 497 days in tier
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
- W WP Author Slug 3K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A
-
SF Author Url Control 1K+ installs · 4.4★ · 2 shared tags D -
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Hostinger Tools 3M+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag B -
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ installs · 3.7★ · 1 shared tag B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Smart User Slug Hider into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/smart-user-slug-hider" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Smart User Slug Hider — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Smart User Slug Hider: 2K+ active installs, 4.9★ (55 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/smart-user-slug-hider
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