At a glance
User Role Editor
User Role Editor WordPress plugin makes user roles and capabilities changing easy. Edit/add/delete WordPress user roles and capabilities.
Live Composer – Free WordPress Website Builder
Page builder for WordPress with drag and drop header/footer editing, responsive settings, and animations. Compatible with Gutenberg block editor.
Full Comparison
Technical Specs
| Metric | User Role Editor | Live Composer |
|---|---|---|
| Requires WP | 4.4+ | 6.0+ |
| Requires PHP | 7.3+ | 7.4+ |
| Tested up to WP | 7.0 | 6.9.4 |
| Plugin age | 16 yrs | 11 yrs |
Quick Verdict
User Role Editor wins this comparison. The data is clear: User Role Editor has 70x more installs than Live Composer, and 85% of its reviews are 5-star. If you need to edit user roles in WordPress, this plugin is the proven choice. Live Composer is a capable page builder, but its role management features are non-existent. For site administrators who control access and permissions, User Role Editor is the only real option here.
Feature Comparison: User Role Editor vs Live Composer
| Feature | User Role Editor | Live Composer |
|---|---|---|
| Edit existing user roles | Yes, built-in | No |
| Add custom user roles | Yes, built-in | No |
| Delete user roles | Yes, built-in | No |
| Capability management | Yes, per-role editing | No |
| Drag-and-drop page building | No | Yes, with header/footer editing |
| Frontend editing | No | Yes, frontend builder |
| Landing page builder | No | Yes, with animations |
| Gutenberg compatibility | Yes, works alongside | Yes, explicitly compatible |
Who Should Use User Role Editor
- Site owners who need to edit user roles in WordPress precisely, trusted by 700K+ active installs.
- Developers managing client sites who must add custom user role WordPress functionality without writing code.
- Anyone who values community confidence: 85% of 287 reviewers gave it 5 stars.
Who Should Use Live Composer
- Designers who want a drag and drop page builder with frontend editing for landing pages.
- Users who need to build a landing page in WordPress with responsive settings and animations included.
- Site builders who require a drag and drop header footer WordPress solution that works alongside Gutenberg.
Community & Support
User Role Editor has a strong track record with its user base. Out of 287 total reviews, 85% are 5-star ratings while only 8% are 1-star. This ratio suggests consistent satisfaction over time. Live Composer shows a similar pattern: 79% of reviews are 5-star and 9% are 1-star, but with a smaller review pool. Both plugins have limited recent support thread data, so decisions should rest on feature fit rather than forum activity.
Verdict: User Role Editor or Live Composer for WordPress sites?
Pick User Role Editor if you manage site access. It solves a specific problem with 70x more installs than Live Composer and a 85% 5-star rating. It is the standard tool for anyone who needs to add custom user role WordPress permissions or delete user role WordPress capabilities.
Pick Live Composer if you need a drag and drop page builder for frontend design. It offers header/footer editing and Gutenberg compatibility that User Role Editor cannot provide. But understand that it offers zero user role management features.
For most intermediate WordPress users, the choice is straightforward. User Role Editor dominates because site security and access control are non-negotiable. If you need an user role editor alternative for WooCommerce or general permission management, User Role Editor is the data-backed winner.
This comparison is AI-generated from live WordPress.org data. Install counts, ratings, versions and support statistics sync weekly, so the numbers on this page stay current. Content passes automated quality checks before publishing, and pages below our quality threshold are held for human review.
Read our full methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Q How many people use User Role Editor compared to Live Composer?
User Role Editor has 700K+ active installs while Live Composer has 10K+, meaning User Role Editor is used on more sites.
Q Which has better user ratings — User Role Editor or Live Composer?
User Role Editor averages 4.5/5 from 287 reviews, while Live Composer averages 4.4/5 from 212 reviews — User Role Editor has the higher average rating.
Q Which is more actively maintained — User Role Editor or Live Composer?
Live Composer was last updated on Jun 4, 2026 and User Role Editor on May 21, 2026, so Live Composer received the more recent update.
Q Are User Role Editor and Live Composer both free?
Yes — both User Role Editor and Live Composer are free to install from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Some features may require a paid upgrade offered by the plugin author.
Q Is User Role Editor or Live Composer better for WordPress sites?
User Role Editor is better if you need to control who can do what on your site, like restricting access to plugins or posts. Live Composer is better if your main goal is designing pages visually with drag and drop. They solve completely different problems, so the right choice depends on whether you need permission management or a page builder.
Q Which is easier to set up for a WordPress beginner — User Role Editor or Live Composer?
User Role Editor is easier for a beginner because it adds a simple menu where you check boxes to grant or remove capabilities for each role. Live Composer requires learning how to use a frontend drag and drop interface, which has a steeper learning curve for someone new to WordPress. Most beginners find User Role Editor ready to use in under a minute.
Q What is the biggest feature difference between User Role Editor and Live Composer?
User Role Editor focuses entirely on user permissions, letting you create custom roles and edit existing ones, like adding a 'moderate comments' capability to subscribers. Live Composer is a page builder that lets you design layouts and landing pages visually on the frontend. One controls who can do what, the other controls how your site looks.
Q Can you switch from User Role Editor to Live Composer (or the other way) without losing data?
Yes, you can switch between them without losing data because they do not overlap in functionality. User Role Editor only changes user role settings stored in the database, which remain intact if you deactivate it. Live Composer only affects page content and layouts, so turning it off leaves your user roles untouched.
Q Which type of site should choose User Role Editor, and which should choose Live Composer?
Choose User Role Editor for membership sites, WooCommerce stores, or any site where you need to restrict admin access or create custom user roles like 'store manager'. Choose Live Composer for brochure sites, landing pages, or portfolios where you want to build custom page layouts without touching code. If you need both, install both since they work independently.
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