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Smart Custom 404 Error Page

By NerdPress

Site Administration & Utilities / URL Redirects & 301 Management

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

6.75/10

User Rating

4.9/5 (based on 1195+ 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 offers a straightforward solution for customizing 404 error pages, standing out among similar plugins with its simplicity and ease of use.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and functional setup process
Effectively customizes 404 error pages
Lightweight without unnecessary features
Highly rated for ease of use

Weaknesses

Limited customization options compared to some alternatives
May conflict with certain themes like Divi
No advanced redirection features
Lacks a pro version with extended capabilities

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's ease of use and effectiveness, though some report compatibility issues.

Positive highlights

'Simple and functional' - bigportal
'Highly recommend this simple, easy to use plugin' - Frank DeBlasi
'Simple to install and configure' - spectraemail
'Awesome. It works like a charm.' - panon
'Great plugin! I am satisfied with the plugin.' - Veru

Common complaints

Conflicts with Divi theme CSS causing styling issues
Limited customization features
No advanced options for redirection or analytics

Weaknesses

Theme compatibility issues, especially with Divi
Lack of advanced customization and features
No premium support or updates through a pro version

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, no-fuss plugin to create a custom 404 error page without needing advanced features or extensive customization.

Not ideal for

Users who require deep customization, advanced redirection options, or those using themes like Divi that may conflict with this plugin.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides essential features to create and display a custom 404 error page with easy setup and basic customization options.

Final Verdict

Smart Custom 404 Error Page is an excellent choice for users who want a straightforward and effective way to customize their 404 error pages without complexity.

However, users with specific theme setups like Divi or those needing advanced features may find it limiting and should consider alternatives.