WP User Avatars

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

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

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 99% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.

No paid tier is visible, so we don't put a figure on revenue or sale value: that would be guessing. The install base is a real asset to an acquirer, just not one public data lets us price.

1. ★★★★★ Dennis Bareis

   2.7y ago

   Very simplistic (which to some people is good) but not only do I want one that supplements Gravatar but has user support, this one is abandoned.

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ ctmartin2020

   4.4y ago

   A lot of people seem to think this replaces the former WP User Avatar… it does not. First, it appears that support is seriously lacking here… look at the numerous support questions left unanswered. A couple that particularly interested me had to do with whether it was possible to allow users to upload their avatar from the frontend. I do not give users access to the WordPress Admin User page. The old WP User Avatar had a nice simple shortcode which I could use on the frontend. I find there is ZERO documentation here for this plugin and even looking through the code I can find NO shortcode for use on the frontend… so even though those support questions went unanswered, I can see why: there is NO support for user avatar uploads on the frontend. So the bottom line is, if you’re looking for something that provides an interface for users on the frontend (like the old WP User Avatar), this plugin will NOT do what you need. One User Avatar does. This topic was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by ctmartin2020.

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ mikejcandy

   5.0y ago

   Nice and simple plugin. Great replacement for the corrupt ProfilePress (previously WP User Avatar).

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ sxn31

   5.2y ago

   As other reviewers are commenting, I’m here after being tricked by the authors of a different avatar plugin. This is doing the job nicely.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ Lars

   5.2y ago

   I was using rival plugin WP User Avatar (no “s”) that just suddenly transformed into this ‘ProfilePress’ membership plugin adding a bunch of stuff I didn’t need, want or asked for. WP User Avatars (this plugin, with an “s”) is light weight, functional and does what it says it will do. Please keep it this way… This topic was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by Lars.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ Le Isaac

   5.3y ago

   Glad I found this lightweight replacement for WP User Avatar (no “s”). That plugin was recently changed extensively and rebranded as ProfilePress. I didn’t want or need all the stuff they added and am so happy that I found WP User Avatars (with an “s”). It’s such a good replacement and it does just what I need, which is to allow me to create custom avatars for my users and authors. Great work!

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ boogieboa

   5.3y ago

   @johnjamesjacoby, I really hope you will continue to maintain and update “WP User Avatars” now that its main rival has turned into the unwanted and bloated “ProfilePress” – 40,000 new users need you.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ laymonk

   5.5y ago

   I use UM, and users know how to upload their pix to their profile, but then their articles they author is unable to show their profile pix (in author boxes) because WP and plugins that offer author boxes only look in gravatar for image sources. Another similarly named plugin (with 400k downloads) is unable to do what this plugin does so straight-forwardly. I am loving JJJ plugins, and learning from them. Reminder to self, ensure you make a donation to this awesome contributor

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. 2021-05-29 Version 1.4.1 Update author info Add sponsor link 1.4.1
2. — Version 1.4.0 Improved support for long file names 1.4.0
3. — Version 1.3.0 Fix local avatars in comments 1.3.0
4. — Version 1.2.0 BuddyPress profile styling support 1.2.0
5. — Version 1.1.1 Rename functions.php to common.php 1.1.1
6. — Version 1.1.0 Compatibility with future versions of WP User Profiles 1.1.0

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.4.8 · WP 5.7.2

Translated into 52 languages, 7 at 90% or more · development strings

Plus 28 more locales with partial translations.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2025-05-17 30K+ → 20K+ down after 381 days in tier
2. 2024-05-01 40K+ → 30K+ down

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).

• Meks Smart Author Widget 10K+ installs · 4.1★ · 3 shared tags D
• WP Avatar 300+ installs · 3.9★ · 3 shared tags D
• Simple Local Avatars 100K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A
• Gravatar Enhanced – Avatars, Profiles, and Privacy 100K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags B
• One User Avatar | User Profile Picture 100K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags A
• Basic User Avatars 20K+ installs · 4.5★ · 2 shared tags C

Embed this report card

Drop a live Pulse card for WP User Avatars into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.

WP User Avatars: 20K+ active installs, 4.5★ (29 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-08-29. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/wp-user-avatars