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WP-UserOnline

By Lester Chan

Communication & Messaging / Notification Management

WP-UserOnline Review - In-Depth Analysis

Display the number of users online on your WordPress blog with detailed statistics.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.99/10

User Rating

4.6/5 (based on 37+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

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 enables you to display how many users are online on your WordPress site, with detailed statistics of where they are and who they are (Members/Guests/Search Bots).

To use the widget, go to WP-Admin -> Appearance -> Widgets. The widget name is UserOnline. Scroll down for instructions on how to create a UserOnline Page.

If you prefer not to use the widget, you can add the following code to your theme's sidebar.php file: <?php if (function_exists('users_online')): ?><p>Users online: <div id="useronline-count"><?php users_online(); ?></div></p><?php endif; ?>

For development, you can find the plugin on GitHub at this link.

Donations are appreciated for the time spent creating and maintaining this plugin, but it can be used freely without any obligations.

Comparing to Alternatives

WP-UserOnline is a straightforward plugin designed to track online users with minimal setup. Compared to other similar tools, it focuses on simplicity and backend visibility.

Top alternatives

WP-UserOnline

Strengths

Easy to install and use with no complicated setup.
Displays online users directly in the WordPress backend.
Does not require third-party accounts or services.
Minimalist design that avoids unnecessary features.

Weaknesses

Limited customization options for display on the frontend.
Compatibility issues reported with some themes like Divi.
No advanced analytics or detailed user tracking.
Lacks integration with other plugins or services.

User Sentiment Analysis

User feedback highlights appreciation for the plugin's simplicity and effectiveness, though some report technical issues.

Positive highlights

"Do what it is supposed to. Great plugin." - Jakours2
"So hard to find a minimalist plugin to check online users. Thank you!" - MarkJ
"Exactly what I was looking for. Quick and simple." - cjnrluay9
"A simple and excellent plugin, very useful for me!" - Betty_
"Thanks and great." - tajmohamed30

Common complaints

Compatibility problems with certain themes, notably Divi.
Widget not displaying on the frontend as expected.
Lack of frontend display options.
Limited features beyond basic user tracking.

Weaknesses

No support for frontend widgets in some themes.
Minimal feature set may not meet all user needs.
No updates or enhancements for advanced tracking.
Potential conflicts with theme elements.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Users seeking a lightweight, no-fuss plugin to monitor online users from the WordPress backend without complex configurations.

Not ideal for

Those needing frontend display of online users, advanced analytics, or seamless compatibility with all themes, especially Divi.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version offers basic online user tracking visible in the backend with easy setup and no additional costs.

Final Verdict

WP-UserOnline delivers a simple and effective solution for tracking online users within the WordPress dashboard, ideal for users who value ease of use and minimal configuration.

However, its limited frontend capabilities and compatibility issues with some themes may restrict its usefulness for those seeking more advanced or visible user tracking features.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free WP-UserOnline plugin.

Online

Useronline

Usersonline

Screenshots

FAQ

Go to WP-Admin -> Pages -> Add New
Type any title you like in the post’s title area
If you ARE using nice permalinks, after typing the title, WordPress will generate the permalink to the page. You will see an ‘Edit’ link just beside the permalink.
Click ‘Edit’ and type in useronline in the text field and click ‘Save’.
Type [page_useronline] in the post’s content area
Click ‘Publish’

If you ARE NOT using nice permalinks, you need to go to WP-Admin -> Settings -> UserOnline and under ‘UserOnline URL’, you need to fill in the URL to the UserOnline Page you created above.

Use:

<?php if (function_exists('get_most_users_online')): ?>    <p>Most Users Ever Online Is <?php echo get_most_users_online(); ?> On <?php echo get_most_users_online_date(); ?></p> <?php endif; ?>

Use:

<?php if (function_exists('get_users_browsing_site')): ?>    <div id="useronline-browsing-site"><?php echo get_users_browsing_site(); ?></div> <?php endif; ?>

Use:

<?php if (function_exists('get_users_browsing_page')): ?>    <div id="useronline-browsing-page"><?php echo get_users_browsing_page(); ?></div> <?php endif; ?>

Make sure your host is running PHP 5. The only foolproof way to do this is to add this line to wp-config.php (after the opening <?php tag):