Head-to-head · September 2026
Edit Author Slug vs Smart Custom Display Name
Edit Author Slug comes out ahead, winning 6 of 8 head-to-head checks against Smart Custom Display Name.
Edit Author Slug
This plugin allows full control of your user permalinks, allowing you to change both the author base (the…
Smart Custom Display Name
The Smart Custom Display Name Plugin allows you to set your Display Name to anything you like
| Metric | Edit Author Slug | Smart Custom Display Name |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 100K+ | 200+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 8.6K | 91 |
| Download trend | +5.1% | +12.3% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 5/5 |
| Reviews | 84 | 5 |
| Health score | 57/100 | 38/100 |
| Last updated | 1 year ago | 2 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 6.8.10 | WP 6.3.12 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.0+ |
| First released | Nov 2009 | Aug 2015 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
Edit Author SlugSmart Custom Display Na…
Choose Edit Author Slug if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 100K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 84 reviews
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.8 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Smart Custom Display Name if…
You care most about download trend and rating.
- Small user base (200+ active installs)
- No update in 2 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.3 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: author
FAQ
Edit Author Slug vs Smart Custom Display Name: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Which is better, Edit Author Slug or Smart Custom Display Name?
Edit Author Slug comes out ahead, winning 6 of 8 head-to-head checks against Smart Custom Display Name. Choose Edit Author Slug if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose Smart Custom Display Name if you care most about download trend and rating.
Is Edit Author Slug more popular than Smart Custom Display Name?
Edit Author Slug is the more popular of the two with 100K+ active installs, compared with 200+ for Smart Custom Display Name.
Can I use Edit Author Slug and Smart Custom Display Name together?
Both plugins cover author, 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 Edit Author Slug and Smart Custom Display Name 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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