WordPress Beta Tester
Allows you to easily upgrade for testing the next versions of WordPress.
The facts
- Rating
- 4★ from 47
- Active installs
- 2k+
- Price
- Free
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2026
- Added
- Jun 2009
- Requires WP
- 4.9
- Tested up to
- WP 7.1
- Requires PHP
- 5.6
- Downloads
- 562,640
Our analysis
AI-assistedWordPress Beta Tester is a plugin that allows you to participate in beta testing for WordPress. It enables you to upgrade your website to the latest Nightly, Beta, or Release Candidate versions with ease. The plugin is designed for users who want to test new features and improvements before they are officially released.
Once installed, the plugin switches your site to the point release update channel by default, with an option to access the latest development versions. It includes settings to manage autoupdate notifications and bundled plugins or themes, making it suitable for developers and advanced users who want to stay on the cutting edge of WordPress development.
Best for: This plugin is best for developers and advanced users interested in testing upcoming WordPress features.
What it does well
- ✓Enables easy participation in WordPress beta testing
- ✓Allows upgrades to Nightly, Beta, or Release Candidate versions
- ✓Includes settings to manage autoupdate notifications
- ✓Option to skip bundled plugins and themes during updates
Where it falls short
- •Requires backups before testing new versions
- •May not be suitable for inexperienced users
Verdict
WordPress Beta Tester provides a straightforward way to engage with WordPress development, but it requires a certain level of technical knowledge and caution.
From the developer
Andy Fragen's own description of WordPress Beta Tester, lightly tidied.
This plugin provides an easy way to get involved with beta testing WordPress.
Once installed it will enable you to upgrade your website to the latest Nightly, Beta, or Release Candidate at the click of a button using the built in upgrader.
By default once enabled it switches your website onto the point release update channel.
For the more adventurous there is the option to switch to the bleeding edge (trunk) of development.
Don’t forget to backup before you start!
Please enable auto-updates for this plugin to ensure future changes are properly handled with core updates.
Extra Settings
There is a setting to Skip successful autoupdate emails. It functions to disable sending emails to the admin user for successful autoupdates. Only emails indicating failures of the autoupdate process are sent.
There is a setting to Skip bundled plugins and themes. It functions to disable the installation of any plugins or themes that are bundled with the Core update.
PRs are welcome on GitHub.