Head-to-head · October 2026
Automatic Safe Update vs Disable Updates
Automatic Safe Update comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Disable Updates.
Automatic Safe Update
To update your WordPress is a time consuming task you can’t avoid. Without it, your site will be in trouble…
Disable Updates
Disables all automatic updates (core, plugins, themes, translations) and restricts update visibility & access…
| Metric | Automatic Safe Update | Disable Updates |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 30+ | 90+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 151 | 111 |
| Download trend | -23.7% | -40.3% |
| Rating | — | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 0 | 1 |
| Health score | 63/100 | 66/100 |
| Last updated | 1 month ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 5.4+ | 7.2+ |
| First released | May 2019 | Jul 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Automatic Safe UpdateDisable Updates
Choose Automatic Safe Update if…
You care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and last updated.
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Small user base (30+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Choose Disable Updates if…
You care most about active installs, reviews and health score.
- Small user base (90+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: Automatic updates Plugin Updates theme updates
FAQ
Automatic Safe Update vs Disable Updates: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 7, 2026
Which is better, Automatic Safe Update or Disable Updates?
Automatic Safe Update comes out ahead, winning 4 of 7 head-to-head checks against Disable Updates. Choose Automatic Safe Update if you care most about downloads (30 days), download trend and last updated. Choose Disable Updates if you care most about active installs, reviews and health score.
Is Automatic Safe Update more popular than Disable Updates?
Disable Updates is the more popular of the two with 90+ active installs, compared with 30+ for Automatic Safe Update.
Can I use Automatic Safe Update and Disable Updates together?
Both plugins cover Automatic updates, Plugin Updates and theme updates, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.
Are Automatic Safe Update and Disable Updates free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.
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