WP User Groups
Group WordPress users with custom taxonomies and terms.
Solid choice
WP User Groups is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 600+ sites, is rated 4.3/5 and was last updated 5 days ago, and scores 79/100 on our health check.
- Actively developed — last update 5 days ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
- Momentum — downloads up 66% vs the previous 30 days
- Small user base (600+ active installs)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where WP User Groups stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| group | #16 |
| profile | >100 |
| taxonomy | >100 |
| term | #80 |
| user | #58 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.3 from 6 reviews
About WP User Groups
From the official readme · v2.7.1Description
WP User Groups allows users to be categorized using custom taxonomies & terms.
- “Groups” & “Types” are created by default, and can be overridden
- More user group types can be registered with custom arguments
- Edit users and set their relationships
- Bulk edit many users to quickly assign several at once
- Filter the users list to see which users are in what groups
- Not destructive data storage (plugin can be enabled & disabled without damage)
- Works great with all WP User & Term plugins (see below)
Recommended Plugins
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Installation
- Download and install using the built in WordPress plugin installer.
- Activate in the “Plugins” area of your admin by clicking the “Activate” link.
- Visit “Users > Groups” and create some groups
- Add users to groups by editing their profile and checking the boxes
Frequently asked questions
Does this create new database tables?
No. There are no new database tables with this plugin.
Does this modify existing database tables?
No. All of the WordPress core database tables remain untouched.
Does this plugin integrate with user roles?
No. This is best left to plugins that choose to integrate with this plugin.
Where can I get support?
Community: https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wp-user-groups Development: https://github.com/stuttter/wp-user-groups/discussions
Changelog
[2.7.1] – 2026/09/16
- Require WordPress 6.4 or newer
[2.7.0] – 2026/09/15
- Replace the user relationship checkbox matrix with a native WordPress list table
- Require PHP 7.4 and test the supported PHP versions
- Add automated tests, static analysis, and release validation
- Correct deprecated term queries, translation placeholders, and escaped output
- Add contributor documentation and WordPress.org metadata
[2.6.0] – 2026/09/09
- Avoid PHP 8.2 deprecation notices while preserving public label properties
- Allow administrators to manage otherwise managed user taxonomies
- Hide the User Profiles Groups section when no groups exist
- Correct the Groups section text domain
[2.5.1] – 2021/05/29
- Update author info
- Add sponsor link
[2.5.0] – 2021/03/23
- Improve compatibility with WP User Profiles plugin (props John Blackbourn)
[2.4.0] – 2018/10/04
- Simplify get and set functions for user terms
- Add support for advanced WP_User_Query arguments
- Fix custom column support in user taxonomies
Screenshots
For developers
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Best WP User Groups alternatives
All group plugins →
FAQ
WP User Groups: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 16, 2026
Is WP User Groups free?
Yes. WP User Groups is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is WP User Groups safe to use in 2026?
WP User Groups is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 600+ sites, is rated 4.3/5 and was last updated 5 days ago, and scores 79/100 on our health check.
How many websites use WP User Groups?
WP User Groups is active on 600+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 42,080 times since it launched in August 2015. It was downloaded 941 times in the last 30 days.
Does WP User Groups work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested WP User Groups up to WordPress 7.1.3, the latest release. It requires WordPress 6.4 or newer.
What PHP version does WP User Groups need?
WP User Groups requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was WP User Groups last updated?
The latest version, 2.7.1, was released on October 10, 2026 (5 days ago).
Who makes WP User Groups?
WP User Groups is developed and maintained by John James Jacoby.
What are the best alternatives to WP User Groups?
The most popular alternatives to WP User Groups are BuddyPress (90K+ installs), WP Telegram (Auto Post and… (30K+ installs) and WP Telegram Widget and Join… (4K+ installs).
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