Best Guest Post Plugins for Your WordPress Site

Guest posting is one of the oldest tricks in the digital playbook and still one of the smartest. You get fresh content, new perspectives, and often a nice SEO boost. Your guest writers? They get exposure, backlinks, and bragging rights.

But here’s the thing: managing guest submissions through email or Google Docs? That gets messy quickly. You’ll lose track of drafts, wrestle with formatting, and probably miss a deadline or two.

So, what’s the smarter way? Let your guest authors submit content directly from your site, without giving them backend access.

In this guide, we’ll show you the best WordPress guest blogging plugins that make that possible. Whether you're running a multi-author news site, a tutorial hub, or a niche community blog, these tools help you collect, manage, and publish guest content like a pro. Let’s dive in.

Guest Posting Made Easy: Top 7 WordPress Plugins

Want to use the power of guest blogging to grow your WordPress site, but fear the manual hassle? You're in luck! The right guest post plugins can completely transform your workflow, making it incredibly easy to accept, manage, and publish content from external contributors. These essential tools streamline everything, allowing you to focus on high-quality content and audience engagement.

1. WP User Frontend Pro 🥇

WP User Frontend is the ultimate frontend posting plugin for WordPress. No backend, no headaches. If you’re serious about accepting guest posts, WP User Frontend should be at the top of your list. It’s not just a plugin, it’s a full-blown frontend engine for WordPress.

Whether you want to let users submit blog posts, real estate listings, event announcements, or even custom post types, this plugin handles it all without sending anyone to the backend. And the best part? You can control everything from a drag-and-drop builder.

Key Features:

• Frontend Post Submission: Let users submit posts, pages, or any custom post type, right from the frontend.
• Drag-and-Drop Form Builder: Build submission forms with custom fields in minutes. No coding needed.
• Guest Posting Without Login: Don’t want to force user registration? No problem. Allow guest submissions and moderate them before they go live.
• Content Moderation: Every submission can be reviewed by an admin before it’s published.
• Profile Editing & Dashboards: Users can manage their own profiles, view submissions, and even edit posts, again, all from the frontend.
• Payment Integration: Want to monetize guest posts? You can charge per post or create subscription plans.
• Custom Fields & ACF Support: Supports ACF fields, taxonomies, custom metadata, you name it.

Pros:

• Covers both guest posting and user profile management
• Works with any post type
• Excellent for both free and paid user-generated content
• Compatible with popular page builders and themes

Cons:

• Free version is limited (but still useful)
• Might be overkill if you just need a simple form

Verdict: If you're building anything that involves user-submitted content, WP User Frontend is your best bet. It saves time, reduces backend exposure, and gives you total control over what gets published on your site.

2. Frontend Publishing Pro 🥈

It is a focused, premium solution for frontend content submissions. If you want a clean, streamlined way to let users submit posts without backend access, Frontend Publishing Pro gets it done, without any fluff. It’s ideal for websites that rely on user-contributed content but still want tight editorial control.

Unlike some bloated plugins that try to do everything, this one stays in its lane: frontend post submission and moderation. And it does that exceptionally well.

Key Features:

• Frontend Form Builder: Drag-and-drop interface for creating post submission forms with custom fields.
• Role-Based Permissions: Restrict form access by user role or make it available to guests.
• Content Moderation Workflow: Choose whether posts are saved as drafts, pending, or published automatically.
• Media Upload Support: Let users add images, videos, or attachments to their posts.
• Custom Post Type Support: Works seamlessly with posts, pages, or any custom post type.
• Frontend Post Management: Authors can edit or delete their own posts from the frontend.

Pros:

• Simple and uncluttered interface
• Excellent control over post status and access
• Ideal for content-heavy sites with contributor roles
• One-time purchase, no recurring subscription fees

Cons:

• No user registration or profile editing features
• Requires manual styling to match your theme
• Not ideal for absolute beginners (more dev-friendly)

Verdict: If you already have user registration handled and just need a powerful frontend posting system with moderation controls, Frontend Publishing Pro delivers in spades. It’s lean, reliable, and built for serious publishing workflows.

3. User Submitted Posts 🥉

It's a lightweight plugin to let users submit posts fast, no login required. If you’re looking for a free and simple way to collect guest posts from your audience, User Submitted Posts is exactly that. It doesn’t try to manage user profiles, payments, or subscriptions. Instead, it gives you a basic but solid form where users can drop in a post, and you decide what happens next.

Key Features:

• Frontend Post Submission Form via Shortcode: Place a form anywhere on your site with a simple shortcode.
• Supports Guest Posts: No registration needed just fill out the form and hit submit.
• Fields for Title, Content, Tags, Categories, Images, and More: Customize what users need to provide.
• Anti-Spam Tools: Built-in CAPTCHA and spam filtering keep bots out.
• Post Moderation: New submissions can be saved as drafts or pending review before they go live.
• Email Notifications: Get alerts when someone submits a post.

Best For:

• Solo bloggers and personal sites
• Community blogs accepting guest content occasionally
• Crowdsourced content sites
• Writers who prefer email-style submissions (but more organized)

Pros:

• Completely free
• Easy to set up no learning curve
• Doesn’t require user accounts
• Works with almost any WordPress theme

Cons:

• No drag-and-drop form builder
• Limited layout/design control
• Not ideal for complex content types or logged-in user workflows

Verdict: If all you want is a quick, anonymous post submission form on your WordPress site User Submitted Posts nails it. It’s free, flexible, and doesn’t bloat your admin panel with features you’ll never use.

4. Profile Builder – User Registration & User Profile

Build custom registration forms, manage user roles, and prep your site for contributor access. Profile Builder gives you full control over who can post and how they register. If you're building a membership site, gated community, or multi-author blog, this plugin helps lay the foundation.

While it doesn’t handle frontend post submissions by itself, it pairs beautifully with tools like WP User Frontend Pro or Frontend Publishing Pro.

Key Features:

• Custom Registration & Login Forms: Replace the default WordPress login/register pages with beautifully styled forms.
• Frontend Profile Editing: Let users manage their profiles without accessing the backend.
• Role Management: Assign custom roles and control what each type of user can do.
• Email Confirmation & Spam Protection: Double opt-in and CAPTCHA keep fake signups away.
• Shortcode-Based Forms: Add registration, login, or profile editing forms anywhere.
• Add-Ons for WooCommerce, Custom Fields, and More: Extend functionality for more complex sites.

Pros:

• Clean and customizable registration flows
• Works well with other frontend posting plugins
• Supports redirects, avatar uploads, and user-specific content
• Great documentation and developer-friendly options

Cons:

• Doesn’t include post submission out of the box
• Requires pairing with a frontend post plugin to complete the workflow
• Some features are gated behind the Pro version

Verdict: If your guest posting strategy includes user registration and profile control, Profile Builder gives you the tools to do it right. Pair it with a post submission plugin, and you’ve got a seamless contributor workflow that works like a charm.

5. Ultimate Member – User Profile & Membership Plugin

Create advanced user profiles and build a full-fledged membership system with guest posting capabilities as part of the experience. Ultimate Member isn’t just for guest posts. It’s a complete user management and membership plugin.

But with a little setup, it can easily power a guest post submission workflow too. Whether you're building a community blog, directory site, or a niche publishing platform, Ultimate Member lets you create a space where users can register, edit their profiles, and even submit content (with the right extensions or pairings).

Key Features:

• Frontend Registration, Login & Profile Editing
• Custom Form Builder with drag-and-drop fields
• Role-Based Access Controls
• Conditional Menus & Content Restriction
• User Directories for public-facing author lists
• Post Submission via Extensions (e.g., via third-party add-ons or custom setups)

Pros:

• Highly customizable user profiles
• Strong membership and access control features
• Tons of free and premium extensions
• Looks great out of the box with most themes

Cons:

• Post submission isn’t native you’ll need to integrate or customize
• Can be overkill if all you want is guest posting
• Premium extensions required for many advanced features

Verdict: If you want your guest authors to feel like part of a real community, Ultimate Member delivers. While not purpose-built for post submissions, it lays the groundwork for a robust author onboarding flow, and it shines when used alongside frontend posting plugins or custom workflows.

Bonus Pick: Guest Author 🎁

Need to publish guest posts without creating user accounts? This one’s for you.

The Guest Author plugin is a niche solution tailored for editors and site admins who want to credit guest writers without giving them access to the backend. Instead of managing new user roles or accounts, you simply assign a custom author name directly from the post editor.

Key Features:

• Assign custom author names to posts
• Works with both default and custom post types
• No need to create WordPress user accounts
• Compatible with the block editor (Gutenberg)
• Clean integration with the native author dropdown

Pros:

• Simple and non-intrusive
• No frontend forms required
• Perfect for one-off or anonymous contributions
• Keeps your user base clean and manageable

Cons:

• No post submission forms
• Not suitable for user-generated content platforms
• Only useful from the backend (no frontend interactivity)

Verdict: If your editorial workflow involves publishing content on behalf of contributors, Guest Author is a brilliant little tool. Just assign a name and hit publish no user management drama required.

Best Guest Post Plugins for WordPress – Feature Comparison Table

Choosing the best guest post plugin depends on how much control you want to give your contributors and how often you accept guest content. If you want an all-in-one frontend submission system with user roles, profile editing, payments, and content restriction WP User Frontend Pro is the clear winner.

If you’re looking for something leaner, like just allowing guest posts without creating user accounts, then options like User Submitted Posts or Guest Author might fit better. And if you already use form builders like WPForms or Gravity Forms, their post submission addons turn those tools into powerful content publishing machines.

And if you already use form builders like WPForms or Gravity Forms, their post submission addons turn those tools into powerful content publishing machines.

Should You Accept Guest Posts on Your WordPress Site?

Guest posting can be a double-edged sword. Done right, it boosts your site's SEO, brings in fresh perspectives, and helps you build connections in your niche. But without proper checks, it can turn into a spam-fest that eats up your time.

The Upside

• Improve search engine visibility with fresh content
• Add variety and new viewpoints to your blog
• Build relationships with fellow creators and marketers

The Downside

• Low-quality or spun content from spammers
• Time spent reviewing, editing, and moderating
• Risk of publishing plagiarized or irrelevant posts

To manage guest posts effectively, start by setting clear and public submission guidelines so contributors know exactly what you expect. Use plugins that offer moderation queues and approval workflows to keep control over what gets published.

And always make sure each post is properly attributed to the correct guest author to maintain transparency and give credit where it’s due.

FAQs About the Best Guest Post Plugins for WordPress

Got questions about guest posting on WordPress? You’re not alone. Let’s clear up the confusion and get your guest posting system running smoothly.

Can I let guests post without logging in?
Yes, some plugins like WP User Frontend allow anonymous submissions. But moderation is a must in that case.

How can I review and approve submissions before they go live?
Use a plugin like WP User Frontend Pro or Frontend Publishing Pro – both support post status settings like “pending review.”

Which plugin supports media uploads?
Most do, but WP User Frontend Pro, Frontend Publishing Pro, and User Submitted Posts offer reliable media upload fields.

What’s the best free tool for guest blogging?
User Submitted Posts is a solid free option for simple needs. For more control, try the free version of WP User Frontend.

How do I display user submissions on the frontend?
You can use shortcodes or Gutenberg blocks to show posts, author bios, or user directories right on your site.