WordPress User Roles – Basic Differences
WordPress User roles give you (the owner or admin) the ability to control what users can or cannot do on a website.
WordPress have 5 default user roles. Subscriber, Contributor, Author, Editor and Administrator. Each role includes a set of tasks that a assigned user can do.
WordPress User Roles Comparison
| PERMISSIONS | Admin | Editor | Author | Contributor | Subscriber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Site / Edit Own Profile | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Edit / Delete Own Posts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Edit / Publish Own Posts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Upload Media Files | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Edit / Delete other’s Posts and Pages | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Edit / Delete Private posts and Pages | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Moderate Comments | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Manage Categories and Links | ✔ | ✔ | |||
| Install / Delete Plugins and Themes | ✔ | ||||
| Manage other user accounts | ✔ | ||||
| Install and edit themes and Plugins | ✔ | ||||
| Access to all Features and Options | ✔ | ||||
| Update Core | ✔ |
1. Administrator
This role is intended for site owners. The Administrator is someone that has the most control over a single website. Administrators can edit and delete any content, manage plugins, edit code, and add or remove other users.
Administrators basically have full access to all the functions in the WordPress Admin Area; therefore you need to be careful to who you assign this role. You do not want anyone to have the ability to uninstall plugins or to edit theme files.
2. Editor
The editor role is used for users that should have control over the content. Editors can create and publish new posts and pages. They can also edit and delete posts from other users. Editors can also upload files.
Users with the editor role can also manage categories, links, and moderate comments.
Editors cannot change website’s settings, install, or delete plugins and themes, they can also not edit or delete users.
3. Author
Authors have no administration capabilities. They can create, edit, delete, and publish their own content.
Authors also have the ability to upload media files.
Authors cannot modify or delete posts created by other users. They cannot change website’s settings, install or delete plugins, or delete and edit other users information.
4. Contributor
Contributors have very few permissions. A Contributor can only create, edit and delete their own posts. They cannot even publish content. Posts created by a contributor needs to be reviewed by an Editor or Administrator before it can be published.
5. Subscriber
Subscribers have the least amount of permissions. They can only update their profile, read posted content, and leave comments on your website. Subscribers have no access to site settings.
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