# Custom Post Avatar

> Custom Post Avatar has 10+ active installs and 75 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 23/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Consider an alternative.** Custom Post Avatar shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 6 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.

**Custom Post Avatar is inspired by Aaron Parecki’s Emoji Avatars functionality on his website (https://aaronparecki.com/2019/02/25/9/emoji), but instead of beeing related to the used emojis in the content it is possible…**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 10+
- **Total downloads:** 1,800
- **Downloads (30 days):** 75 (+8.7% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** No ratings yet
- **Health score:** 23/100 (At risk)
- **Version:** 0.9.6
- **Last updated:** Sep 24, 2020
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 5.5.22
- **Requires:** WordPress 4.9+, PHP 5.2.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Christian Hockenberger (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/chrisbergr/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-post-avatar/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [avatar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/avatar/) | #85 | 119 |
| [gravatar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/gravatar/) | #50 | 89 |
| [local avatar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/local-avatar/) | #3 | 3 |
| [replacement](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/replacement/) | #8 | 11 |
| [user image](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/user-image/) | #2 | 3 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| avatar | >100 | 1,525 |
| gravatar | >100 | 523 |
| local avatar | >100 | 368 |
| replacement | >100 | 1,832 |
| user image | >100 | 10,000 |

## Version adoption

- 0.9: 100%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Gravatar Enhanced – Avatars, Profiles, and Privacy](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/gravatar-enhanced/) | 100K+ | 5/5 (3) | Mar 17, 2026 | 54/100 |
| 2 | [Simple Local Avatars](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/simple-local-avatars/) | 100K+ | 4.6/5 (89) | Aug 19, 2026 | 90/100 |
| 3 | [One User Avatar / User Profile Picture](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/one-user-avatar/) | 100K+ | 4.7/5 (41) | Aug 21, 2026 | 76/100 |
| 4 | [User Profile Picture](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/metronet-profile-picture/) | 40K+ | 4.6/5 (59) | Jul 9, 2026 | 80/100 |
| 5 | [Basic User Avatars](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/basic-user-avatars/) | 20K+ | 4.7/5 (42) | Nov 15, 2024 | 49/100 |
| 6 | [WP User Avatars](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-user-avatars/) | 20K+ | 4.5/5 (29) | Oct 1, 2026 | 88/100 |
| 7 | [Simple User Avatar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/simple-user-avatar/) | 20K+ | 4.6/5 (19) | Sep 24, 2026 | 72/100 |
| 8 | [Meks Smart Author Widget](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/meks-smart-author-widget/) | 10K+ | 4.5/5 (8) | Jul 23, 2024 | 29/100 |
| 9 | [Leira Letter Avatar](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/leira-letter-avatar/) | 6K+ | 4.9/5 (28) | Dec 18, 2025 | 50/100 |
| 10 | [User Profile Picture](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/users-profile-picture/) | 4K+ | 5/5 (2) | Jun 7, 2026 | 64/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Custom Post Avatar free?
Yes. Custom Post Avatar is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Custom Post Avatar safe to use in 2026?
Custom Post Avatar shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 6 years ago, and scores 23/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Custom Post Avatar?
Custom Post Avatar is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,800 times since it launched in March 2019. It was downloaded 75 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Custom Post Avatar work with WordPress 7.1?
Custom Post Avatar is officially tested up to WordPress 5.5.22, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Custom Post Avatar need?
Custom Post Avatar requires PHP 5.2.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Custom Post Avatar last updated?
The latest version, 0.9.6, was released on September 24, 2020 (6 years ago).

### Who makes Custom Post Avatar?
Custom Post Avatar is developed and maintained by Christian Hockenberger.

### What are the best alternatives to Custom Post Avatar?
The most popular alternatives to Custom Post Avatar are Gravatar Enhanced (100K+ installs), Simple Local Avatars (100K+ installs) and One User Avatar (100K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/custom-post-avatar/ · Generated 2026-10-03 03:54 UTC by PageForge