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Smart Custom 404 Error Page

By NerdPress

Site Administration & Utilities / URL Redirects & 301 Management

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

Smart Custom 404 Error Page Review - In-Depth Analysis

Create a custom 404 error page easily without coding or redirects. Enhance user experience and keep visitors on your site.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.63/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 1196+ reviews)

Active Installations

100,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Bringing visitors to your website takes time and effort. Every visitor is important. The default 404 error page of most themes does not provide any information on what to find on your site. A first-time visitor, who does not know you, is left in a dead end and leaves your website. Set up a helpful custom 404 error page to keep them on your site!

This handy plugin allows you to easily create your own 404 error page without any effort and it works with almost every theme.

NerdPress has adopted Smart Custom 404 Page! Read the announcement here.

We have been fans of this plugin for many years, and we are grateful for Peter's many years of service to the community. Peter retired from plugin development in October 2023, so we have jumped in to help ensure this plugin continues to work well now and in the future.

Create your custom 404 error page just like any other page using the WordPress Editor. Then go to Appearance > 404 Error Page and select the created page as your custom 404 error page. That’s it!

Unlike similar plugins, the 404page plugin does not create redirects. That’s quite important because a correct code 404 is delivered which tells search engines that the page does not exist and has to be removed from the index.

Additionally, the 404page plugin does not create additional server requests.

The only requirement for this plugin is that you change the Permalink Structure in Settings > Permalinks to anything else but 'Plain.' This also activates the WordPress 404 error handling.

The Plugin offers a block 'URL causing 404 error' for the block-based editor to show the URL that caused the error. The block offers three display options: 'Page' to show the page including path, 'Domain Path' to show the URL without protocol and parameters, and 'Full' to show the complete URL.

The Plugin offers a shortcode 'pp_404_url' for the classic editor to show the URL that caused the error. There are three possible options to display the URL.

This plugin does not set cookies, collect or store any data, or send any data to external servers.

If you are a theme developer, you can add native support for the 404page plugin to your theme for full control.

Comparing to Alternatives

Smart Custom 404 Error Page is a popular plugin for customizing 404 error pages with a high user rating. It faces competition from several alternatives that offer similar functionality with varying features.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Extremely high user rating with 97% five-star reviews
Simple and easy to use with straightforward setup
No need to upgrade to a premium version for basic 404 customization
Works reliably to create custom 404 error pages
Positive user feedback highlights its effectiveness and simplicity

Weaknesses

Known reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability fixed only in recent update
Reported compatibility issues with Divi theme affecting CSS
No premium version means fewer advanced features compared to some alternatives
Limited advanced customization options compared to some competitors

User Sentiment Analysis

With a near-perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5 from over 1,190 users, the plugin is overwhelmingly praised for its simplicity and effectiveness. Negative reviews are rare but highlight some compatibility issues.

Positive highlights

'Life saver! When you have to go premium for just a 404 page, this plugin throws you the life jacket!' – SAM HINDI
'Great 🙂 Does the job just fine, simple and easy.' – meeresschutz
'Works Great! I highly recommend this simple, easy to use plugin. Gets the job done.' – Frank DeBlasi
'Simple to install and configure, and it does just what it says it would.' – spectraemail
'Gorgeous. Awesome. It works like a charm.' – panon

Common complaints

Causes CSS conflicts with the Divi theme, affecting site appearance

Weaknesses

Has a medium severity reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability fixed only in recent versions
Limited advanced features due to absence of a pro version
Some theme compatibility issues reported

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward, free solution to create custom 404 error pages without needing advanced features or premium upgrades.

Not ideal for

Users who rely heavily on the Divi theme or require advanced customization options and premium support may find this plugin less suitable.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers full functionality to create and customize 404 error pages without restrictions.

Final Verdict

Smart Custom 404 Error Page is an excellent choice for users who want a simple, effective, and free way to customize their 404 error pages. Its high user satisfaction and ease of use make it a standout option in its category.

However, users should be aware of its recent security vulnerability, now fixed, and potential compatibility issues with the Divi theme. Those needing advanced features or guaranteed theme compatibility might consider alternatives.