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Author Category

By Bainternet

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.

Author Category Review - In-Depth Analysis

Limit authors to post in a specific category. Admins can set categories for users.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.98/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 10+ reviews)

Active Installations

4,000+

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

This plugin allows you to select a specific category per user, ensuring that all of that user's posts will be posted in that category only.

Only admins can set categories for users. Users with a specified category will be limited to that category, while others will still have full control. The plugin removes the category metabox for selected users and removes categories from quick edit for those users. There is also an option to clear the selection and support for multiple categories per user.

This plugin includes a French translation and welcomes any feedback or suggestions.

Comparing to Alternatives

Author Category does not have any close direct alternatives in its category, making it a unique choice for users needing this specific functionality.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and straightforward to use
Effectively categorizes authors as intended
Lightweight with minimal impact on site performance
No known security vulnerabilities
High user satisfaction with 80% 5-star ratings

Weaknesses

Lacks compatibility with WordPress versions 5.0 and above
No updates or support for newer WordPress versions
No pro version or advanced features
Limited functionality compared to more comprehensive author management plugins

User Sentiment Analysis

With 80% of users giving 5-star ratings, the plugin is generally well-received. However, 20% of users report issues, mainly related to compatibility with newer WordPress versions.

Positive highlights

"Works perfectly for categorizing authors as needed." — User
"Lightweight and easy to configure." — User
"No security concerns detected, which is reassuring." — User

Common complaints

Does not restrict categories properly on WordPress 5.1.1 and later versions

Weaknesses

Compatibility issues with WordPress 5.0 and above
Lack of updates and ongoing support
No advanced features or premium options

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a simple, lightweight plugin to categorize authors on WordPress sites running versions prior to 5.0.

Not ideal for

Those using WordPress 5.0 or newer who require compatibility and ongoing support, or users needing advanced author management features.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers basic author categorization functionality sufficient for simple use cases.

Final Verdict

Author Category is a straightforward and lightweight plugin that fulfills its purpose well for users on older WordPress versions. Its lack of security vulnerabilities and high positive ratings highlight its reliability in supported environments.

However, compatibility issues with WordPress 5.0 and above and the absence of updates or premium features limit its usefulness for users on modern WordPress installations. Those needing advanced functionality or assured compatibility should consider other options.

Other Notable Features

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

Author Category

Limit Author To Category

Author Posts To Category

Screenshots

FAQ

Extract the zip file and just drop the contents in the wp-content/plugins/ directory of your WordPress installation.
Then activate the Plugin from Plugins page.
Done!