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Simple Author Box

By WebFactory

Community & Social / User-Generated Content

Simple Author Box Review - In-Depth Analysis

Add a responsive author box or guest author box with social icons to any post. Great author box for any site!

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.56/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 114+ reviews)

Active Installations

90,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

4 / 10 (Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Simple Author Box adds a responsive author box at the end of your posts, showing the author name, author gravatar, and author description. It also adds over 30 social profile fields on the WordPress user profile screen, allowing the display of author social icons in the author box.

This plugin is fully customizable to match your theme design with options for style, color, size, and text. It looks great on desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile phones. The author box can be automatically inserted at the end of your post or manually added to your template files.

Simple Author Box is compatible with RTL and AMP. It is also GDPR compliant as it does not track, collect, or process any user data.

Comparing to Alternatives

Simple Author Box is a popular choice for adding author information to WordPress posts, competing with several other author box plugins.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Easy to use and configure author boxes.
Supports multiple authors and guest authors.
Includes customization options for appearance.
Integrates well with most WordPress themes.

Weaknesses

Pro version prompts can be intrusive on the dashboard.
Limited styling options in the free version.
Some users report spacing issues with certain themes.
Lacks support for newer social platforms like Bluesky.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights both appreciation for the plugin's functionality and frustrations with its upselling approach and design compatibility.

Positive highlights

"Excellent, awesomeee + incredible plugin…" – dglite
"Great Script" – ThinkTech | Themis Vasilop
"I'm quite happy with this plugin, it works well." – anonymous user

Common complaints

Intrusive pro upgrade prompts on the dashboard.
Design and spacing issues when positioning the author box.
Lack of refund flexibility after purchase.
Missing icons for newer social platforms like Bluesky.

Weaknesses

Upselling tactics can deter new users.
Limited time to test premium features before purchase.
Some users find the premium box styling unappealing.
Support responsiveness and customization help can be lacking.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users looking for a straightforward and customizable author box plugin that integrates smoothly with most themes and supports multiple authors.

Not ideal for

Those who dislike frequent upsell prompts or need extensive design customization without purchasing the pro version.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential author box features including multiple author support, basic customization, and social media links.

Pro version (39 - 149 USD / year)

The premium upgrade provides advanced styling options, additional social media icons, priority support, and enhanced customization capabilities.

Final Verdict

Simple Author Box is a solid choice for adding author information with ease and flexibility, especially for users who want a reliable free option with the possibility to upgrade.

However, potential buyers should be aware of the intrusive upselling and design quirks that may require patience or premium features to resolve.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Simple Author Box plugin.

Author Bio

Author Box

Author Profile

Author Social Icons

Guest Author

Screenshots

FAQ

The Simple Author Box plugin was designed to display the author information on posts, categories, tags, etc. The plugin does not work on pages – it was not designed for this, unfortunately. Adding the shortcode on a blog page will also not work because the plugin won’t have author information to display/will not know which author information to display. Adding the shortcode in a widget that is on a page is another instance when the SAB will not be displayed due to the same reasons. You can add it in a widget, but that widget has to be on a single post.