Allowing open user registrations on your WordPress site is asking for trouble. Expert studies show that over 30% of signups on sites with open registration are fake spam accounts or bots. Moderating new users is crucial for security, preventing fake accounts, and maintaining control over who can access special content or purchases on your site.
In this 2023 guide, we’ll compare the top two methods for implementing manual user approval in WordPress, along with concrete steps to configure both options to fit your site’s needs.
Key Benefits of Registration Moderation
Before diving into the how-to, understanding the core benefits of enabling manual user approval is key for good decision making:
✅ Prevent spam signups: Over 5 million WordPress sites suffer from fake user registration spam each year. Moderation acts as a shield to block suspicious accounts.
✅ Control access to premium content: Sites like membership sites, news publishers, online course platforms, and streaming services need granular control over what visitors can view. Moderation puts you back in control so only approved users gain access.
✅ Reduce abandoned shopping carts: Retailers using WooCommerce can minimize guest checkouts by requiring shoppers to register first. This results in 83% higher average order values from logged-in customers according to ecommerce platform Shopify.
✅ Improve security: Rogue users who slip through open registration can potentially exploit vulnerabilities and access areas like wp-admin without permission. Moderation limits this threat vector.
The data and expert guidance clearly show that registering new users is a double-edged sword. Moderation solutions like the two methods below balance open signup with oversight and control.
Method #1: WPForms User Registration Addon
WPForms is the most popular WordPress forms builder, actively used on over 5 million websites. Their user registration addon makes it easy to create custom WordPress registration and login forms with built-in moderation capabilities.
Key Advantages
✅ Beautiful registration forms to match your brand
✅ Optional admin approval for registrations
✅ Block users by email address or IP address
✅ Integrate with email marketing services
✅ Drag and drop form creation
Configuration Overview
Setting up moderated user registration with WPForms takes just a few steps:
Step 1) Install and activate WPForms
Step 2) Get the WPForms user registration addon
Step 3) Create a registration form using the form builder
Step 4) Open form settings and enable “Admin Approval”
Step 5) Customize auto-response emails for approvals
Step 6) Embed registration form on your site
Step 7) Manage approved/denied users from wp-admin dashboard
For developers and agencies building sites for clients, WPForms is a streamlined way to add custom registration forms with built-in moderation support.
Method #2: New User Approve Plugin
If you want a dedicated site-wide registration moderation solution that works acrossplugins, New User Approve is a great choice. It creates a global approval layer for user signups.
What Sites Benefit Most?
Membership sites, training platforms, online publishers, and other sites with premium content areas gain robust access control from site-wide moderation. For ecommerce stores, it minimizes guest checkouts for higher conversions.
Key Features & Benefits
✅ Force moderation queue for all user registrations
✅ Compatible with MemberPress, WooCommerce, BuddyPress, etc
✅ Email notifications and messaging
✅ Allow certain VIP invites to skip moderation
✅ Easy to manage approval queue
How to Set Up Site-wide Registration Moderation
Implementing New User Approve takes just a few minutes:
Step 1) Install and activate the plugin
Step 2) Configure global registration messaging
Step 3) Review pending approvals from the dashboard
Step 4) Approve or deny users with one click
Step 5) Optional: Create VIP invitation codes to selective skip moderation
As you can see, New User Approve offers an admin-focused solution for blanket moderation coverage across your WordPress site.
Summing Up the Two Options
When evaluating registration moderation approaches, start by considering your site’s unique needs and challenges.
👍 WPForms user registration is ideal for adding custom signup forms with built-in moderation to steer the experience.
👍New User Approve delivers simple site-wide oversight by forcing all plugins with registration capabilities through its approval queue.
Moderating new user signups should be a top priority. Both options above give you the tools to eliminate spam accounts while maintaining personal control over who joins and participates on your website.
Have you implemented registration moderation on your own WordPress site? What challenges or benefits did you encounter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
