Head-to-head · October 2026
National Characters vs Special Characters Remove
National Characters comes out ahead, winning 3 of 6 head-to-head checks against Special Characters Remove.
National Characters
The plugin allows you to enter national characters (special characters) in username during registration.
Special Characters Remove
Simply Remove Special Characters from WordPress attachments, slugs and permalinks. This plugin allows you to…
| Metric | National Characters | Special Characters Remove |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 70+ | 20+ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 74 | 53 |
| Download trend | +45.1% | +17.8% |
| Rating | — | — |
| Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Health score | 25/100 | 27/100 |
| Last updated | 11 years ago | 2 years ago |
| Tested up to | WP 4.2.39 | WP 6.7.10 |
| Support resolved | — | — |
| Requires PHP | Any | 5.6.20+ |
| First released | Aug 2015 | May 2022 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
National CharactersSpecial Characters Remo…
Choose National Characters if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend.
- Small user base (70+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 11 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 4.2 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Special Characters Remove if…
You care most about health score, last updated and tested up to.
- Small user base (20+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
Both compete in: special
FAQ
National Characters vs Special Characters Remove: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
Which is better, National Characters or Special Characters Remove?
National Characters comes out ahead, winning 3 of 6 head-to-head checks against Special Characters Remove. Choose National Characters if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and download trend. Choose Special Characters Remove if you care most about health score, last updated and tested up to.
Is National Characters more popular than Special Characters Remove?
National Characters is the more popular of the two with 70+ active installs, compared with 20+ for Special Characters Remove.
Can I use National Characters and Special Characters Remove together?
Both plugins cover special, 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 National Characters and Special Characters Remove 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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