Head-to-head · October 2026
Custom Profile Picture vs Simple Local Avatars
Simple Local Avatars comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Custom Profile Picture.
Custom Profile Picture
Custom Profile Picture is the easiest way to replace WordPress default Gravatar avatars with custom profile…
Simple Local Avatars
Adds an avatar upload field to user profiles if the current user has media permissions. Generates requested…
| Metric | Custom Profile Picture | Simple Local Avatars |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 300+ | 100K+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 218 | 18.4K |
| Download trend | +6.9% | +2% |
| Rating | 4/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Reviews | 4 | 89 |
| Health score | 62/100 | 90/100 |
| Last updated | 3 months ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.0.6 | WP 7.1.2 |
| Support resolved | 100% | 100% |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jul 2025 | Jan 2011 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Custom Profile PictureSimple Local Avatars
Choose Custom Profile Picture if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (300+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Choose Simple Local Avatars if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 100K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.6/5 from 89 reviews
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
FAQ
Custom Profile Picture vs Simple Local Avatars: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 4, 2026
Which is better, Custom Profile Picture or Simple Local Avatars?
Simple Local Avatars comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against Custom Profile Picture. Choose Custom Profile Picture if you care most about download trend. Choose Simple Local Avatars if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
Is Custom Profile Picture more popular than Simple Local Avatars?
Simple Local Avatars is the more popular of the two with 100K+ active installs, compared with 300+ for Custom Profile Picture.
Can I use Custom Profile Picture and Simple Local Avatars together?
Both plugins cover avatar and gravatar, 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 Custom Profile Picture and Simple Local Avatars 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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