Table of contents

Why allow user-submitted content?Option 1: Let users post content via the WordPress dashboardOption 2: Allow front-end post submission with a pluginOption 3: Use custom code or theme supportHow to moderate and manage user submissionsEncourage high-quality submissionsNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Users → Allow Post Content

How to allow WordPress users to post content

Letting users submit posts can turn your WordPress site into a dynamic, community-driven space. Whether you’re running a blog, forum, directory, or publication, enabling user-generated content keeps things fresh and engaging.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step, with options for both the WordPress dashboard and front-end forms.

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Why allow user-submitted content?

User-submitted content can take your WordPress site to the next level, but it’s important to understand both the benefits and the challenges.

Benefits of user-submitted content

Letting others contribute can drastically increase the amount and variety of content on your site. This can help improve SEO by keeping your website active and full of fresh content.

It also encourages users to feel invested in your brand or community, leading to higher engagement and return visits.

If you’re running a niche blog or news site, it’s a great way to feature diverse voices and unique perspectives.

Potential challenges to watch for

User submissions can incite issues like spam, plagiarism, or poorly written content. You also need a way to review or approve posts before they go live, which adds time and effort.

Depending on how you allow submissions (dashboard vs. front-end), there could be security concerns, especially if users are uploading files or accessing sensitive areas of your site.

Option 1: Let users post content via the WordPress dashboard

This method works best when you’re dealing with a small group of trusted contributors.

Step 1: Enable user registration

Go to Settings > General in your WordPress admin dashboard. Find the option labeled Membership and check the box next to Anyone can register. Then set the New User Default Role to either Contributor or Author, depending on how much control you want to give users.

Contributor: Can write and submit posts for review, but cannot publish or upload media.
Author: Can write, publish, and edit their own posts, and upload media files.

Step 2: Understand the roles you’re assigning

Choosing the right user role is essential. Contributors are safer because they can’t publish without admin approval, but they also can’t add images by default. Authors can upload media and publish posts, but that means you’re trusting them not to make mistakes—or publish something inappropriate.

Role	Can Write Posts	Can Publish Posts	Can Upload Media
Subscriber	❌	❌	❌
Contributor	✅	❌	❌
Author	✅	✅	✅
Editor	✅	✅ (all posts)	✅

Step 3: Simplify the dashboard for non-techy users

The WordPress dashboard can be overwhelming. You can clean it up by installing plugins like WP Adminify. These tools let you hide unnecessary menus and simplify the interface, making it easier for contributors to focus on writing posts.

Option 2: Allow front-end post submission with a plugin

If you want users to submit posts without accessing the admin area, use a front-end form. This keeps your dashboard secure and lets you style the experience however you want.

Recommended front-end submission plugins

Here are some beginner-friendly plugins that make it easy to create user-submitted post forms:

Plugin	Best For	Key Features
WPForms	All-in-one form builder	Drag-and-drop builder, post submission template, spam protection, file uploads
User Submitted Posts	Lightweight setup	Simple front-end form, supports images, custom fields, shortcode-based
Frontend Publishing Pro	Power users	Custom form fields, category controls, approval workflows
ProfilePress	Membership and user profiles	Post submission, user dashboards, email notifications, role-based access

How to set up WPForms for user submissions

Install WPForms and the Post Submissions addon: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins > Add New, search for WPForms, and install it. Then activate the Post Submissions addon under WPForms > Addons.
Create a new post submission form: Go to WPForms > Add New and choose the Blog Post Submission Form template. This form includes all the basic fields like title, content, category, and featured image.
Customize your form fields: You can add or remove fields as needed—like author name, tags, or custom taxonomies. Drag fields around to rearrange them.
Configure post settings: Under the Post Submissions settings tab, choose to save submissions as “Draft” or “Pending Review” to moderate them before publishing. Select the post type and assign a default category if you want.
Publish the form on a page: Add the form to any WordPress page using the WPForms block in the editor or use a shortcode. Now visitors can submit posts without logging in.

Option 3: Use custom code or theme support

If you’re comfortable with code, and your theme supports it, you can create a custom post submission form from scratch.

Create a custom form with PHP

For developers or advanced users, WordPress functions like wp_insert_post() allow you to process submitted form data and create posts programmatically. Here’s a basic example:

if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'POST' && isset($_POST['submit_post'])) {
  $new_post = array(
    'post_title'   => sanitize_text_field($_POST['title']),
    'post_content' => wp_kses_post($_POST['content']),
    'post_status'  => 'pending',
    'post_author'  => get_current_user_id(),
    'post_type'    => 'post',
  );
  wp_insert_post($new_post);
}

You’ll also need to add proper form markup, nonces for security, and error handling. This method gives you full control but takes more time and testing.

How to moderate and manage user submissions

Even if you let people submit content freely, you’ll want to approve or edit it before it goes live.

To set up a review workflow:

Use the Contributor role to require admin approval
Use WPForms or ProfilePress to set post status as Pending
Enable email notifications so editors know when new content is waiting

To filter out low-quality content and spam:

Activate Akismet to block spammy submissions
Use Yoast SEO to analyze readability and keyword use
Ask users to check grammar with Grammarly before submitting

Encourage high-quality submissions

You’ll get better results if you guide contributors clearly.

Write contributor guidelines

Create a page or PDF that outlines what kind of content you want. Include:

Minimum and maximum word count
Desired tone and voice
Formatting expectations (headings, links, images)
Rules for quoting, citations, and external links
How to submit images and get credit

Offer incentives to contributors

Display an author bio with backlinks
Promote top submissions on your homepage or social media
Give regular contributors a badge or “featured author” role

Next steps for allowing WordPress users to post content

User-generated content can fuel your website’s growth—if you set up the right structure. Whether you’re building a community, scaling content, or just adding fresh voices, WordPress gives you multiple ways to safely let users post content.

Start with dashboard roles if you’re working with a small trusted team. Use front-end forms if you want to open submissions to the public. Whatever method you choose, always moderate content and provide clear contributor guidelines.

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