Head-to-head · October 2026
Groups vs OWS IP & Country Block
Groups comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against OWS IP & Country Block.
Groups – Memberships and Access Control
The Groups plugin for WordPress is an essential tool that helps you organize users on your website. Think of…
OWS IP & Country Block
OWS IP & Country Block is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to block users based on their IP…
| Metric | Groups | OWS IP & Country Block |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10K+ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 19.6K | 66 |
| Download trend | +124% | +22.2% |
| Rating | 4.8/5 | — |
| Reviews | 382 | 0 |
| Health score | 93/100 | 55/100 |
| Last updated | 2 weeks ago | 2 months ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 | WP 7.0.7 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.4+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Jan 2012 | Jul 2026 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
GroupsOWS IP & Country Block
Choose Groups if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Loved by users — 4.8/5 from 382 reviews
- Actively developed — last update 2 weeks ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 124% vs the previous 30 days
Choose OWS IP & Country Block if…
You prefer its feature set and workflow — it holds its own on the fundamentals.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
Both compete in: access-control
FAQ
Groups vs OWS IP & Country Block: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 7, 2026
Which is better, Groups or OWS IP & Country Block?
Groups comes out ahead, winning 7 of 7 head-to-head checks against OWS IP & Country Block. Choose Groups if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
Is Groups more popular than OWS IP & Country Block?
Groups is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with <10 for OWS IP & Country Block.
Can I use Groups and OWS IP & Country Block together?
Both plugins cover access-control, 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 Groups and OWS IP & Country Block 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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