What is: User Role

WordPress allows different levels of access. These are known as “user roles.” These are ranked below from most powerful to least powerful:

  • Super Admin(istrator)
  • Administrator
  • Editor
  • Author
  • Contributor
  • Subscriber

Note: You can also create and define new roles using plugins available at the WordPress.org website as well as third-party websites.

The Super Admin user role has unlimited powers to do anything on any WordPress site owned by the same person/company, including deleting website(s).

The Administrator user role has unlimited powers to do anything on a single WordPress website, including deleting it. You must be logged in as an Administrator or Super Admin to create or modify user roles.

The Editor user role has the power to publish/modify/delete articles in their own name as well as modify/change articles written by other users. This role is handy for allowing someone else to help manage your website but restrict them from making site-wide changes or deleting your site.

The Author user role has the power to publish/modify/delete only their own articles. This is useful if you want to invite other people to be guest bloggers or regular contributors to your website, and you have a high level of trust in them.

The Contributor user role has the power to write and edit articles in their own name but not publish or delete them. This is a useful user role to initially assign to guest bloggers or regular contributors to your site whom you are still evaluating.

The Subscriber user role only has the power to manage their profile.

Note: When you first install WordPress, the first user account that is automatically created is given the user role of Administrator.

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Jamie Spencer

My name is Jamie Spencer and I have spent the past 10 years building money making blogs. After growing tired of the 9-5, commuting and never seeing my family I decided that I wanted to make some changes and launched my first blog. Since then I have launched lots of successful niche blogs and after selling my survivalist blog I decided to teach other people how to do the same.