WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars
by AF themes · Login & Users
Also makes 4 other plugins · 31.7K+ installs across the portfolio →
WP Post Author is the ultimate solution for an Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors, and Local Avatars. Easily manage Author Bios, Co-authors, …
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
10K+
≈15K estimated
Momentum
+44%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Rating quality scores 79/100. Too few reviews to rank on quality — nudge happy users to leave one.
83 health vs 61 average across 2,203 Login & Users plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →0.8%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 1.2M lifetime downloads are still running, in line with its category: the median Login & Users plugin keeps 0.7%, across 1,476 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Login & Users 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 3 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 11 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.2★ over 22 reviews, smoothed to 4.13★ and held back under 25 reviews
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 1 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.
49
Momentum
Holding steady
+0.7
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
41%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| post author | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| multi author | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| multiple authors | #2 | #3 | up 1 |
| author meta box | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| smart author box | #1 | #2 | 0 |
| author box your tag | #3 | #5 | up 2 |
| authors | #4 | #6 | up 2 |
| author bio your tag | #4 | #6 | 0 |
| author | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| guest authors | #4 | #3 | 0 |
| guest author your tag | #4 | #4 | up 1 |
| author social icons your tag | #5 | #9 | 0 |
| author profile your tag | #5 | #7 | 0 |
| multiple post authors | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| wp author bio | #2 | #3 | 0 |
| smart author bio | #2 | #3 | up 1 |
| guest | #6 | #9 | up 3 |
| custom avatar | #4 | #4 | 0 |
| co authors | #6 | #11 | 0 |
| avatars | #8 | #13 | down 2 |
232 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 177 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Your five tags are all earning their place. Each gets you onto page 1 of its own search, so none is worth giving up. “author”, “custom avatar” and “guest authors” (#4, #4 and #4 untagged) would be the next worth testing if a slot frees up.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 52.3K · 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.
3
releases in the last 12 months
11d ago
latest release · v4.2.0 · 20 Oct 2026
27
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 “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 3.3 years ago; the previous band took 4.1 years to cross, which places it about 50% of the way through.
Install history since 8 Jul 2019
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ angryjerknxc6mo ago
The plugin does its job. At least, for what I use it for. With that said, nagging me to leave a review or upgrade to pro every other day is a sure-fire way to receive a one-star review. Stop nagging users.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ rockstroh6mo ago
funktioniert gut
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ iamfels2211mo ago
I love it
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ hoffman103012mo ago
Can’t exactly use the plugin when it doesn’t work. Avatar doesn’t show up no matter what I do, and the only suggestion from documentation is to go to an admin menu that doesn’t exist. Uninstalling.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ raoulbtc2.0y ago
this is the last time i’m writing this
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ YodaSec Expose2.1y ago
Wonderful plugin 👍
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mandatory19582.9y ago
One can easily choose this plugin and get the most outcome of it.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ascen73.1y ago
I am very happy with it! It works great.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 3.9.0 New: Local Avatars support – Users can now upload and assign custom profile pictures directly via the WordPress Media Library. New: Performance optimization – Option to bypass Gravatar and host avatars locally for faster 3.9.0
- — Version 3.8.3 Update: Security Improvement Update: General Improvement 3.8.3
- — Version 3.8.2 Update: Security Improvement Update: General Improvement 3.8.2
- — Version 3.8.1 Update: Security Improvement Update: General Improvement 3.8.1
- — Version 3.8.0 New: Login page selection option added New: Register page selection option added New: Post Ratetd users list added 3.8.0
- — Version 3.7.5 Update: Security Improvement Update: General Improvement 3.7.5
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 12 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (4.2.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
- 2026-10-09 CVE-2026-108124 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects < 4.1.0 Patched in 4.1.0
- 2026-10-09 CVE-2026-108125 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects 4.0.0 - 4.1.0 Patched in 4.1.0
- Patched Medium · 4.9 WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars <= 4.0.0 - Authenticated (Administrator+) SQL Injection ↗2026-10-07 CVE-2026-42708 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 4.0.0 Patched in 4.0.1
- 2026-08-04 CVE-2026-11977 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 3.9.1 Patched in 3.10.0
- Patched Medium · 6.5 WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars <= 3.9.1 - Authenticated (Contributor+) SQL Injection ↗2026-06-26 CVE-2026-57643 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 3.9.1 Patched in 3.10.0
- Patched Medium · 6.1 Freemius <= 2.10.1 - Reflected DOM-Based Cross-Site Scripting via url Parameter ↗2026-04-30 CVE-2024-13362 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.8.3 Patched in 3.8.4
- 2024-12-30 CVE-2024-56247 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 3.8.2 Patched in 3.8.3
- Patched High · 7.2 Boost Your Blog's Engagement with WP Post Author <= 3.8.1 - Authenticated (Administrator+) SQL Injection ↗2024-10-11 CVE-2024-8757 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command Affects <= 3.8.1 Patched in 3.8.2
- Patched Medium · 6.4 WP Post Author <= 3.6.7 - Authenticated (Contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting ↗2024-06-20 CVE-2024-37101 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation Affects <= 3.6.7 Patched in 3.6.8
- 2023-06-28 Improper Privilege Management Affects <= 3.2.3 Patched in 3.3.0
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
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
5 of 8 pass · checked 29 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "WP Post Author is the ultimate solution for an Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors, and Local Avata..."
- ! Has a FAQ No FAQ section.
- ! FAQ asks real questions No FAQ to judge.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("ideal for"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Elementor, Gutenberg, Block editor, Instagram and 4 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 13 headings and 8 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 5,153 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "author social icons" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2023-07-06 20K+ → 10K+ down after 1493 days in tier
- 2019-06-04 10K+ → 20K+ up after 185 days in tier
- 2018-12-01 8K+ → 10K+ up
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).
-
Simple Author Box 90K+ installs · 4.2★ · 5 shared tags A -
Smart Author Box Widget 60+ installs · 3.6★ · 5 shared tags -
Cool Author Box – For Widget and Post Content 500+ installs · 4.1★ · 4 shared tags A -
Meta Author Box — installs · 3.6★ · 4 shared tags -
Magic Author Box — installs · 3.6★ · 4 shared tags -
Molongui Authorship – Author Boxes, Guest Authors & Co-Authors for WordPress 10K+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/wp-post-author" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars: 10K+ active installs, 4.2★ (22 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/wp-post-author
Spotted a number that looks wrong? Report a data issue and we'll check it against the source.