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WP Updates Notifier

By Scott Cariss

Site Administration & Utilities / Site Health & Diagnostics

WP Updates Notifier Review - In-Depth Analysis

WP Updates Notifier sends email notifications for updates on your WordPress site. It monitors core, plugin, and theme updates.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.84/10

User Rating

4.2/5 (based on 35+ reviews)

Active Installations

30,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

WP Updates Notifier is a plugin that monitors your WordPress installation for core, plugin, and theme updates. It sends you email notifications when updates are available. This is especially useful if you do not log in to your WordPress admin regularly or if you manage a client's website.

With this plugin, you can set the frequency of update checks to hourly, twice daily, or daily. It ensures that you are informed about updates sooner. You can choose to be notified about updates only for active themes and plugins. Additionally, it removes the upgrade nag message for non-admin users.

WP Updates Notifier is a fork of the Update Notifier plugin, featuring significant improvements such as a complete rewrite, better code organization, customizable cron intervals, and the ability to set multiple email addresses for notifications. It also includes various hooks and filters for advanced users and is actively supported and developed.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP Updates Notifier stands out as a straightforward plugin focused on notifying users about updates for WordPress core, themes, and plugins. Compared to other update notification tools, it offers simplicity without additional features.

Top alternatives

WP Updates Notifier

Strengths

Simple and easy to use with minimal setup.
Provides email notifications for plugin and theme updates.
Includes details like changelogs and compatibility status.
Lightweight without unnecessary features.

Weaknesses

User interface is somewhat outdated and visually unappealing.
Core update notifications have been reported as unreliable.
Lacks advanced customization options for notifications.
No recent updates suggest potential abandonment.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights the plugin's effectiveness in notifying about updates, though some concerns about its maintenance and interface persist.

Positive highlights

"A bit ugly but work like a charm!" - titizebioutifoul
"Should be installed by default in Wordpress!" - Anonymous User
"Simple, no excess fluff. I like the email notifications, points to Details, Changelog on each plugin, states compatibility." - Mel – Jett Web Development
"I get notified whenever a plugin needs to be updated. Perfect!" - rgallini
"Essential plugin to manage many sites... EXCELLENT!" - WebePc Gianluca Molina

Common complaints

Notification about core updates hasn't worked for over a year.
Plugin appears out-of-date and may not receive future updates.

Weaknesses

Interface is not visually appealing.
Lack of recent maintenance raises concerns about reliability.
Limited features compared to newer alternatives.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, no-frills plugin to receive email notifications about WordPress plugin and theme updates, especially those managing multiple sites.

Not ideal for

Users who require reliable core update notifications, advanced customization, or a modern interface might find this plugin lacking.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers essential update notifications for WordPress core, themes, and plugins via email, providing good value for users needing basic monitoring.

Final Verdict

WP Updates Notifier is a straightforward and effective tool for receiving update notifications, especially useful for users managing multiple WordPress sites. Its simplicity and focus on essential features make it a practical choice for those who want basic update alerts without extra complexity.

However, the plugin's outdated interface and reported issues with core update notifications, along with a lack of recent updates, suggest caution. Users needing robust and fully maintained solutions might consider alternative plugins.