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Smart Custom 404 Error Page
Create a custom 404 error page the easy way! No coding, and no redirects.
The facts
- Rating
- 4.9★ from 1,196
- Active installs
- 100k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 21 May 2026
- Added
- Sep 2013
- Requires WP
- 4.0
- Tested up to
- WP 7.0.4
- Requires PHP
- 5.4
- Downloads
- 2,736,225
Our analysis
AI-assistedSmart Custom 404 Error Page is a WordPress plugin that allows you to create a custom 404 error page for your website. This plugin helps retain visitors by providing them with useful information instead of a standard error message when they encounter a broken link. You can set it up easily using the WordPress Editor and select your custom page through the Appearance settings.
The plugin does not create redirects, ensuring that the correct 404 status code is sent to search engines. It also avoids generating additional server requests, which can help with site performance. This plugin is suitable for both beginners and developers looking to enhance user experience on their sites.
Best for: This plugin is best for website owners who want to improve user experience by providing helpful information on 404 errors.
What it does well
- ✓Allows creation of a custom 404 error page
- ✓Does not create redirects, preserving correct 404 status codes
- ✓No additional server requests generated
- ✓Easy setup using the WordPress Editor
- ✓Compatible with almost every theme
Where it falls short
- •Requires changing the Permalink Structure to activate
- •Limited feature information available
Verdict
Smart Custom 404 Error Page offers a straightforward solution for managing 404 errors effectively. It is a useful tool for those looking to keep visitors engaged on their site.
From the developer
NerdPress's own description of Smart Custom 404 Error Page, lightly tidied.
Bringing visitors to your website takes time and effort. Every visitor is important. The default 404 error page of most themes does not provide any information on what to find on your site. A first-time visitor, who does not know you, is left in a dead end and leaves your website. Set up a helpful custom 404 error page to keep them on your site!
This handy plugin allows you to easily create your own 404 error page without any effort and it works with almost every theme.
Out of Retirement!
NerdPress has adopted Smart Custom 404 Page! Read the announcement here.
We’ve been fans of this plugin for many years, and we’re grateful for Peter’s many years of service to the community. Peter retired from plugin development in October 2023, so we’ve jumped in to help ensure this plugin continues to work well now and in the future.
Usage
Create your custom 404 error page just like any other page using the WordPress Editor (Pages > Add New). Then go to Appearance > 404 Error Page and select the created page as your custom 404 error page. That’s it!
Why use this plugin?
Unlike similar plugins the 404page plugin does not create redirects. That’s quite important because a correct code 404 is delivered which tells search engines that the page does not exist and has to be removed from the index.
Additionally, the 404page plugin does not create additional server requests.
Requirements
The only requirement for this plugin is that you change the Permalink Structure in Settings > Permalinks to anything else but “Plain.” This also activates the WordPress 404 error handling.
Block & Shortcode
Block
The Plugin offers a block “URL causing 404 error” for the block-based editor to show the URL that caused the error. The block offers three display options:
- “Page” to show the page including path ( e.g.
does/not/exist) - “Domain Path” to show the URL without protocol and parameters ( e.g.
example.com/does/not/exist) - “Full” to show the complete URL ( e.g.
https://example.com/does/not/exist?p=1)
Tagged as
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