WP Mailster
by brandtoss · Email & Marketing
Also makes 1 other plugin · 1.3K+ installs across the portfolio →
WP Mailster allows your users to be part of a group and communicate by email without having to log into a website.
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 87/100
no flags
Active installs
300+
≈350 estimated
Momentum
+160%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “group email” for “imap”. “group email” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “imap” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
87 health vs 66 average across 2,121 Email & Marketing plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →0.9%
of downloads still active
At least 300 of 35K lifetime downloads are still running, in line with its category: the median Email & Marketing plugin keeps 0.9%, across 1,296 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Email & Marketing 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 4 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 13 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 32 reviews, smoothed to 4.41★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
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.
31
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.6
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
0%
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| listserv your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| mailman your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| discussion list your tag | #7 | #6 | 0 |
| mailster | #7 | #4 | down 6 |
| imap | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| mailing list your tag | #23 | #14 | down 1 |
| mailing group | #10 | #10 | 0 |
| group email your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
14 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 7 listed. 7 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “group email” for “imap”. “group email” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “imap” sits at #7 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 · 1,487 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 1.8K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank
Ranked about #10,100 to #11,100, alongside the other plugins at 300+ installs. Plugins with the same install count swap places between wp.org requests, so this is where most of them sit. Checked monthly, last on 21 Oct 2026.
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
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
4
releases in the last 12 months
13d ago
latest release · v1.9.2.0 · 18 Oct 2026
31
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “300+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 6 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 24 Mar 2018
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ cncladmin1.9y ago
I’ve been using this plugin for about 3 years now, and it’s been working a charm. Simple and effective. Then I recently ran into a little problem. The developer responded very quickly, and I was able to resolve the issue right away.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Peter Borcherds2.0y ago
Holger was brilliant in helping me sort an issue with blank emails. He sent me an amended version of the plugin which solved the issue. Great communication and so helpful, even though we use the free version! The plugin is full of features not available in other WordPress mailing list plugins, and the even the free version gives us all the functionality we want. Thank you, Holger!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Eric2.5y ago
I’ve been using Mailster for many years, first in Joomla and now in WordPress. The most important thing for me is that the editors use their regular WordPress login to manage the mailing lists. And it just works.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Michael Finkenberger2.6y ago
I have been using this plugin for a longer period on different sites and I am very happy with its possibilities and its versatility. Recently, I had a problem which was related with the new EU legislation when it comes to using a from address different from the mail list address. Although I am using just the free version (as of today…), I was supported in a superb manner with fast and helpful suggestions. At the end, those suggestions were correct and the problem was solved with some effort provided by the plugin author! I can absolutely recommend this plugin not only or its functionality, but also for the service being provided: you are definitely not alone! Thanks for that and kindest regards! Michael
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Herky Fishbine2.8y ago
Does what it says it does. Fast support.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ thpho3.0y ago
This plugin is the best alternative one can find when “migrating” from tools like Mailman. Support is provided directly by the dev and excellent. I can clearly recommend this plugin over all the other options out there! Thank You.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ nyks-barton3.1y ago
Works fine, easy to use. This topic was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by nyks-barton.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ holgerka3.7y ago
We are a small non profit org (choir). After we changed our Webhosting Provider we suddenly faced the issue, that we produce too much emails / hour somtimes: When discussions via email come up within a group of 40 people this sums up fast and the webhosting is somewhat restrictive. We had six distribution lists with forwarding to members individual mail addresses. We looked for a better solution, which allows unlimited mail sending. Now we are using WP Mailster and it does the job as we need it. The option to have both WordPress Users and users created directly in the plugin assigned to groups or mailinglists is great and saves some time. Also self-signup is useful and the added layer of security (e.g. only list members are allowed to send to the list) is an improvement compared to our legacy setup. We are using Amazon Simple Email Service via SMTP to send emails coming from WP Mailster. I had some trial and error to identify the correct SMTP setup, but finally it works. I sent the setup to the author, so it can go to the list of provider settings, which the author published on the plugin website.
Read on wp.org ↗
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 18 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (1.9.2.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2026-10-20 CVE-2026-111830 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.9.1.0 Patched in 1.9.2.0
- 2026-10-19 CVE-2026-111832 Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type Affects <= 1.9.1.0 Patched in 1.9.2.0
- 2026-10-19 CVE-2026-111829 Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program Affects <= 1.9.1.0 Patched in 1.9.2.0
- 2026-10-05 CVE-2026-105061 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.9.0.0 Patched in 1.9.1.0
- 2025-01-28 CVE-2025-24688 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.20.0 Patched in 1.8.21.0
- 2025-01-06 CVE-2025-22303 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 1.8.17.0 Patched in 1.8.18.0
- 2024-12-22 CVE-2025-24598 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.17.0 Patched in 1.8.18.0
- 2024-12-07 CVE-2025-24567 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 1.8.16.0 Patched in 1.8.17.0
- Patched Medium · 6.4 WP Mailster <= 1.8.17.0 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-12-02 CVE-2024-11782 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.17.0 Patched in 1.8.18.0
- Patched High · 8.8 WP Mailster <= 1.8.16.0 - Authenticated (Contributor+) SQL Injection via orderby ↗2024-12-02 CVE-2024-53807 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 1.8.16.0 Patched in 1.8.17.0
- 2024-12-02 CVE-2024-53804 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects <= 1.8.16.0 Patched in 1.8.17.0
- 2024-11-23 CVE-2025-24559 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.15.0 Patched in 1.8.16.0
- Patched Medium · 6.4 WP Mailster <= 1.8.16.0 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-11-23 CVE-2024-53737 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 1.8.16.0 Patched in 1.8.17.0
- 2017-12-05 CVE-2017-17451 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects < 1.5.5 Patched in 1.5.5
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 6 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
6 of 8 pass · checked 30 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "WP Mailster allows your users to be part of a group and communicate by email without having to log into a w..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 10 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 10 of 10 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 Names no plugin, service or platform it works with.
- ✓ Headings and lists 3 headings and 1 list.
- ✓ Enough to quote 1,704 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "discussion list", "group email" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-05-01 400+ → 300+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-04-30 300+ → 400+ up after 5 days in tier
- 2026-04-25 400+ → 300+ down after 3 days in tier
- 2026-04-22 300+ → 400+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-04-21 400+ → 300+ down after 2 days in tier
- 2026-04-19 300+ → 400+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2026-04-18 400+ → 300+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2026-04-17 300+ → 400+ up after 8 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).
-
Mailing Group Listserv 100+ installs · 4.0★ · 2 shared tags C -
Participants Database 7K+ installs · 4.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
Newsletters 2K+ installs · 4.6★ · 1 shared tag B -
Email Marketing Plugin – WP Email Capture 1K+ installs · 4.2★ · 1 shared tag B -
Benchmark Email Lite 1K+ installs · 3.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
Contact Form 7 GetResponse Extension 1K+ installs · 4.0★ · 1 shared tag A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for WP Mailster into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/wp-mailster" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="WP Mailster — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> WP Mailster: 300+ active installs, 4.9★ (32 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/wp-mailster
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