/ Plugin Category

/ Community & Social

/ User-Generated Content

/ BuddyPress Follow

BuddyPress Follow

By Andy Peatling

Community & Social / User-Generated Content

Reviewed by Abdul Hameid

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

BuddyPress Follow Review - In-Depth Analysis

Follow members on your BuddyPress site with this nifty plugin. It allows users to follow others without needing approval.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.92/10

User Rating

4.3/5 (based on 15+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

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

Follow members on your BuddyPress site with this nifty plugin. It works similarly to the friends component, but the connection does not need to be accepted by the person being followed, just like Twitter.

This plugin adds Following and Followers tabs to user profile pages, Follow and Unfollow buttons on user profile pages and in the members directory, a new Following activity directory tab, and an Activity > Following subnav tab to a user's profile page. It also includes menu items to the WP Toolbar.

BP Follow has been translated into several languages by contributors. For bug reports or to add patches or translation files, visit the BP Follow Github page.

Comparing to Alternatives

BuddyPress Follow is a niche plugin with a focused feature set, and it has some notable alternatives in the BuddyPress ecosystem.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Simple and easy to use for adding follower functionality.
Lightweight with minimal configuration required.
Good integration with BuddyPress core features.
Positive user feedback highlights ease of use and usefulness.

Weaknesses

Limited customization options, especially for email notifications.
Reports of critical errors causing site issues.
Allegations of adware presence from some users.
No pro version to extend features or support.

User Sentiment Analysis

The plugin holds a generally positive rating with most users appreciating its functionality, but a small portion of users report serious issues.

Positive highlights

"Very good plugin 🙁" – Mohammad Sy
"Very good work contribution.. thanks" – chandrakantsavant88
"It’s the best plugin in the world!" – AiratTop
"Easy to use and easy to extend. Save a lot of time to me! Thanks!" – motherofdragons

Common complaints

Plugin causes critical errors on some websites.
Reports of the plugin seeding adware after installation.

Weaknesses

Lack of customization for email notifications.
No updates addressing reported critical errors.
No official pro support or premium features.
Potential security concerns raised by user reports despite no official vulnerabilities.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a straightforward and lightweight follower system integrated with BuddyPress without needing advanced customization.

Not ideal for

Sites requiring robust support, frequent updates, or advanced features like customizable notifications. Also not recommended for users concerned about potential security or adware risks.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers basic follower functionality integrated with BuddyPress, suitable for simple social networking needs.

Final Verdict

BuddyPress Follow provides a simple and effective way to add follower features to BuddyPress sites, with many users praising its ease of use and utility. However, the plugin has a small but significant number of negative reports citing critical errors and adware concerns, which potential users should consider carefully.

While it has credible alternatives offering broader features and support, BuddyPress Follow remains a viable choice for those needing a lightweight solution without premium costs. Users should weigh the risks and benefits, especially regarding site stability and security, before adopting this plugin.