User Role by BestWebSoft – Add and Customize Roles and Capabilities in WordPress
by bestwebsoft · Uncategorized
Also makes 17 other plugins · 204.3K+ installs across the portfolio →
Powerful user role management plugin for WordPress websites. Easily create, customize, and manage user roles and capabilities without writing code.
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
B 83/100
no flags
Active installs
3K+
≈3.5K estimated
Momentum
+70%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “capability manager”, “role manager” and “capability editor” for “role management”, “roles and capabilities” and “capabilities”. “capability manager” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #16. “role management” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “role manager” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “roles and capabilities” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “capability editor” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #11. “capabilities” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
83 health vs 58 average across 25,737 Uncategorized plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.9%
of downloads still active
At least 3K of 103K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Uncategorized plugin keeps 0.6%, across 17,770 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Uncategorized 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
Most to gain: Rating quality
Updated 108 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.0.8, the current branch or newer
3.6★ over 12 reviews, smoothed to 4.00★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
To rank higher: Too few reviews to rank on quality — nudge happy users to leave one.
Get the full rank-higher report →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.
34
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.7
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
12%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| role management | #4 | #13 | 0 |
| capability your tag | #6 | #18 | down 1 |
| roles and capabilities | #6 | #17 | up 1 |
| change capabilities your tag | #7 | #21 | up 1 |
| capabilities | #7 | #19 | 0 |
| user role | #8 | #16 | up 1 |
| role | #9 | #14 | down 1 |
| bestwebsoft | #9 | #17 | 0 |
| capability editor your tag | #11 | #18 | 0 |
| role manager your tag | #13 | #24 | down 1 |
| capability manager your tag | #16 | #24 | up 1 |
| roles | #18 | #21 | down 2 |
| new role | #8 | #15 | 0 |
| customize | #24 | #22 | — |
| role change | #9 | #17 | down 2 |
| user role editor | #9 | #20 | 0 |
| user role plugin | #9 | #22 | 0 |
| change user role | #9 | #22 | 0 |
| role editor | #10 | #19 | up 2 |
| user roles | #24 | #24 | down 5 |
51 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 20 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Swap “capability manager”, “role manager” and “capability editor” for “role management”, “roles and capabilities” and “capabilities”. “capability manager” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #16. “role management” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “role manager” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #13. “roles and capabilities” sits at #6 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “capability editor” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #11. “capabilities” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “capability editor”. #11 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
- One page off on “capability manager”. #16 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
- One page off on “role manager”. #13 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 2.6K · 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
4mo ago
latest release · v1.7.3 · 15 Jul 2026
33
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 69% 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 “3K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 9 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Apr 2015
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ tolkodelo4.6y ago
Plugin description reads, “Add new and manage existing user roles.” The plugin does not allow this unless you purchase a pro version. So… Better use the Force, Luke (or at least some other plugin). Unchecking the ‘Show pro options’ setting only hides the contents of the ‘Add new role’ page.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ knofy6.0y ago
after initial problems, the team solved all problems. Thank you for that.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ deleted6.7y ago
This plugin does not allow you to delete roles. At least not in 2020
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ askom998.4y ago
Well done! The only one that does not conflict with the other plugins!Great job!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ peaksmedia9.9y ago
If you want to create a new user role you need the pro version – this was the only reason I needed this plugin, hence the low rating.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ajawadger10.3y ago
Very useful, thanks for the great job.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Valerio Souza10.6y ago
Force use the Pro
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ldream10.7y ago
Perfect for my woocommerce b2b and b2c website thanks
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 7.2 Update : We updated all functionality for WordPress 6.7. Bugfix : Minor bugs fixed. 7.2
- — Version 7.0 Update : Security fixes. Update : BWS Panel section was updated. Update : We updated all functionality for WordPress 6.5. 7.0
- — Version 6.9 Bugfix : Notice and Warnings issues have been fixed. Bugfix : Save Changes issue have been fixed. 6.9
- — Version 6.8 Update : We updated all functionality for WordPress 6.2. Update : BWS Panel section was updated. Bugfix : Notice and Warnings issues have been fixed. Bugfix : Multisite issues have been fixed. 6.8
- — Version 6.7 Update : We updated all functionality for WordPress 6.1.1. Update : BWS Panel section was updated. Bugfix : Security issues have been fixed. 6.7
- — Version 6.6 Update : We updated all functionality for WordPress 6.0. Update : BWS Panel section was updated. PRO : The issue with role recover has been fixed. Bugfix : The issue with role capabilities copy has been fixed. 6.6
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 2 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.7.3). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2017-04-12 CVE-2017-18566 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.5.5 Patched in 1.5.6
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 134 languages, 2 at 90% or more
Plus 110 more locales with partial translations.
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
6 of 8 pass · checked 31 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Powerful user role management plugin for WordPress websites. Easily create, customize, and manage user role..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 3 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 3 of 3 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Multisite.
- ✓ Headings and lists 6 headings and 5 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 2,518 characters of description.
- ! Tags match the text Only 0 of 5 tags appear in the text ("capability", "capability editor", "capability manager", "change capabilities", "role manager" missing).
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-02-08 4K+ → 3K+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2026-02-06 3K+ → 4K+ up after 3 days in tier
- 2026-02-03 4K+ → 3K+ down after 964 days in tier
- 2023-06-15 5K+ → 4K+ down after 188 days in tier
- 2022-12-09 4K+ → 5K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2022-12-08 5K+ → 4K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2022-12-07 4K+ → 5K+ up after 1114 days in tier
- 2019-11-19 3K+ → 4K+ up after 1139 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).
-
Web Administrator User Role 10+ installs · 3.6★ · 2 shared tags -
WPFront User Role Editor 30K+ installs · 4.4★ · 1 shared tag A -
Controlled Admin Access 10K+ installs · 4.6★ · 1 shared tag A -
Hide This 2K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag D - A Access Areas for WordPress 400+ installs · 4.2★ · 1 shared tag B
-
Custom Role Creator (CRC) 100+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for User Role by BestWebSoft – Add and Customize Roles and Capabilities in WordPress into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/user-role" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="User Role by BestWebSoft – Add and Customize Roles and Capabilities in WordPress — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> User Role by BestWebSoft – Add and Customize Roles and Capabilities in WordPress: 3K+ active installs, 3.6★ (12 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/user-role
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