Three plugins dominate the WordPress local avatar space: Simple User Avatar, Simple Local Avatars, and WP User Avatar. They all do the same core thing — replace Gravatar with locally uploaded photos — but differ in features and complexity. Here is how they compare.
Simple User Avatar
The most minimal option. Adds a single avatar upload field to the WordPress user profile screen. No settings page, no widget, no shortcode. Just the upload field and the replacement of get_avatar() output with the locally uploaded photo.
Choose this if: you want the absolute minimum code and UI, you do not need any avatar management beyond basic upload, and you are comfortable with the lack of a Gravatar disable option.
Limitation: No option to disable Gravatar fallback for users without a local avatar. No default avatar customisation.
Simple Local Avatars (by 10up)
The most widely trusted option. Developed by 10up, a well-regarded WordPress agency with a strong maintenance track record. Adds an avatar upload field to user profiles, plus a settings option to disable all Gravatar lookups and replace the fallback with a local default image.
Choose this if: you want GDPR-friendly avatar handling (no email addresses sent to Gravatar), you need to set a custom default avatar for users without a photo, or you want role-based upload restrictions.
Strength: The only one of the three with an explicit Gravatar disable option and a custom default avatar setting in the plugin itself.
WP User Avatar
The most feature-rich of the three. Adds avatar upload to user profiles plus a widget and shortcode for avatar display, a settings page with more options, and slightly more configuration surface area than the other two.
Choose this if: you need to display avatars via widget in a sidebar, you want a shortcode for embedding avatars in content, or you need more control over default avatar configuration.
Consideration: More features means more code and slightly more plugin weight. For sites that only need the basic avatar replacement, the extra features are unused overhead.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Simple User Avatar | Simple Local Avatars | WP User Avatar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upload field on profile | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disable Gravatar option | No | Yes | Partial |
| Custom default avatar | No | Yes | Yes |
| Role-based restrictions | No | Yes | No |
| Widget | No | No | Yes |
| Shortcode | No | No | Yes |
| Maintenance track | Active | Very active (10up) | Active |
Migration Between Plugins
Switching between these plugins requires re-uploading avatars because each plugin uses a different user meta key to store the avatar reference. The image files themselves remain in the media library, but the link between the user profile and the image file is stored differently by each plugin. Plan for this if you switch.
Recommendation
For most sites: Simple Local Avatars. It has the best balance of features, the most trusted maintenance track record, and covers the key use case (GDPR-friendly avatar management with Gravatar disable). Simple User Avatar if you genuinely need minimal code. WP User Avatar if you specifically need widget or shortcode output.
For complex user management including profile systems, membership integration, and avatar-based features, a WordPress developer can recommend and implement the right approach for your site.