Head-to-head · October 2026
Co-Authors Plus vs Top Authors
Co-Authors Plus comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Top Authors.
Co-Authors Plus
Assign multiple bylines to posts, pages, and custom post types via a search-as-you-type input box…
Top Authors
Top authors allows yoy to list your top authors with plenty of options. You can set the following in each…
| Metric | Co-Authors Plus | Top Authors |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 20K+ | 100+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 26.4K | 113 |
| Download trend | +56.2% | -0.9% |
| Rating | 3.5/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Reviews | 77 | 6 |
| Health score | 65/100 | 36/100 |
| Last updated | 4 months ago | 11 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.7 | WP 4.2.39 |
| Support resolved | 50% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | Any |
| First released | Apr 2009 | Oct 2010 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Co-Authors PlusTop Authors
Choose Co-Authors Plus if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 20K+ active sites
- Momentum — downloads up 56.2% vs the previous 30 days
Choose Top Authors if…
You care most about rating.
- Small user base (100+ active installs)
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.2 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: authors
FAQ
Co-Authors Plus vs Top Authors: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 18, 2026
Which is better, Co-Authors Plus or Top Authors?
Co-Authors Plus comes out ahead, winning 7 of 8 head-to-head checks against Top Authors. Choose Co-Authors Plus if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose Top Authors if you care most about rating.
Is Co-Authors Plus more popular than Top Authors?
Co-Authors Plus is the more popular of the two with 20K+ active installs, compared with 100+ for Top Authors.
Can I use Co-Authors Plus and Top Authors together?
Both plugins cover authors, 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 Co-Authors Plus and Top Authors 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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