PublishPress – Multiple Authors is a WordPress extension that enables you to assign multiple authors to a single post or page, overcoming the default single-author restriction. It allows you to display beautiful profiles, include guest authors without accounts, and customize layouts for each contributor. This solution is designed for editorial teams and multi-author blogs that need to credit everyone involved in a piece of content.
WPExclusive members get access to PublishPress Authors as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full PublishPress collection →
What Is PublishPress – Multiple Authors?
PublishPress – Multiple Authors is developed by PublishPress and is a publishing plugin for WordPress. It is the result of a merger between the original extension and the Bylines plugin, creating a unified solution for multi-author management. It belongs to the publishing category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for content managers.
WordPress core only allows one author per post, which is a major limitation for collaborative journalism and academic blogging. The plugin solves this by providing a dedicated interface for assigning co-authors, guest contributors, and reviewers to any content type.
PublishPress – Multiple Authors Features
The feature set is built around providing flexibility for editorial teams and ensuring all contributors receive proper credit on the frontend.
Guest Authors and Mapped Users
PublishPress Authors allows you to create Guest Authors who do not need a WordPress user account on your site. These profiles handle information like names, bios, and avatars just like regular users, preventing unnecessary account bloat. You can also map authors to existing WordPress users to automatically sync their profile data for your publishing workflows.
Multiple Display Layouts
The plugin provides several built-in layout options for displaying author boxes, including Simple List, Boxed, and Centered designs. You can integrate these boxes using widgets, shortcodes, or template filters to ensure they match your theme’s aesthetic. PublishPress Authors Pro specifically enables custom profile fields for social media links and detailed biographies.
Advanced Editorial Control
The redesigned sidebar metabox makes it faster to search for and select multiple contributors while editing a post. You can also organize contributors into categories such as Authors, Co-authors, and Reviewers to clarify roles. The plugin includes automation tools to create author profiles based on specific WordPress roles across your entire site.
Pricing
Check current pricing on the PublishPress Authors sales page — WPExclusive members access it as part of their plan.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PublishPress Pro Plan | $129/year | 1 Site | Pro Features + Support |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | PublishPress Authors + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers PublishPress Authors plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
Latest Version
The plugin receives regular updates, with the v2.0 release being a significant milestone that merged functionality with the Bylines plugin software. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release to ensure compatibility with the latest WordPress core.
How to Install
- Download the PublishPress Authors .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to Authors in your admin sidebar to configure your contributors.
- Go to PublishPress → Settings → Multiple Authors to choose your preferred display layout.
Use Cases
Online Magazines and News Sites
Newsrooms often have multiple people collaborating on a single report. Using PublishPress Authors, editorial teams can credit lead writers, researchers, and photographers in a single bio box with dedicated publishing profiles.
Guest Blogging Networks
If you host many guest writers, you can add their bios without clogging your database with hundreds of inactive WordPress user accounts. This keeps your site secure and organized while maintaining professional attribution for every guest post.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Agencies can deploy PublishPress Authors across various niche blogs for different clients. A WPExclusive membership allows for unlimited site installations, making it an affordable way to add high-end editorial features to every project.
vs Alternatives
| Feature | PublishPress Authors | Co-Authors Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Guest Authors | ✅ Yes (Admin UI) | ⚠️ Partial (Coding required) |
| Custom Field Layouts | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Sidebar Metabox | ✅ Multi-select | ❌ Older List Style |
| Starting Price | $129/year | Free (Limited Features) |
| Available on WPExclusive | ✅ Yes | ❌ |
Browse the full publishing plugins on WPExclusive →
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Supports Guest Authors who do not require a WordPress login.
- Multiple frontend display styles (Centered, Boxed, Simple) available out of the box.
- Easily categorizes contributors into roles like “Reviewer” or “Photographer”.
⚠️ Limitations
- Automatic author box display depends on theme compatibility; some themes require manual template tag placement.
- The full custom author lists feature is limited to the Pro version.
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is PublishPress – Multiple Authors GPL Licensed?
Yes. PublishPress – Multiple Authors is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) — the same license that governs WordPress itself. GPL gives any user the legal right to use, study, share, and redistribute the software. This is the legal framework that makes WPExclusive’s membership model possible.
WPExclusive distributes 100% original, unmodified files — the same release the developer publishes. No injected code, no alterations, no security risks.
Get PublishPress – Multiple Authors on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you PublishPress – Multiple Authors plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full PublishPress collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does PublishPress – Multiple Authors do?
PublishPress – Multiple Authors is a publishing plugin used to assign multiple contributors to a single piece of content. PublishPress Authors allows you to show names, bios, and links for many writers in one author box.
Is PublishPress – Multiple Authors free?
There is a basic version available, but the Pro features are restricted. Access to the full experience is available via WPExclusive from $9.99/month.
What is the latest version of PublishPress – Multiple Authors?
The plugin is actively maintained — WPExclusive members always receive the most current release, such as the major v2.0+ series upgrades.
How much does PublishPress – Multiple Authors cost?
Retail plans start at $129/year for a single site. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month.
Is it legal to use PublishPress – Multiple Authors via WPExclusive?
The plugin is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
Can I credit people who don’t have accounts with PublishPress – Multiple Authors?
Yes, PublishPress Authors includes a Guest Author feature. This allows you to create profiles with bios and avatars for external contributors without giving them login access to your site.
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