Kadence Security vs PDF Password Protect (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Password Protection Plugins top 10: Kadence Security at #4 and PDF Password Protect at #7. Kadence Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Kadence Security
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection
Harden your site security with Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Vulnerability Scanner, Firewall, and more. Formerly iThemes Security.
PDF Password Protect
Protect PDF files by passwords on your WordPress Website.
Who leads on what
Kadence Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Kadence Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #7 in Password Protection Plugins.
Kadence Security has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 200+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Kadence Security has 3,990, PDF Password Protect has 1. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Kadence Security has more reviews behind its score: 3,990 against 1.
PDF Password Protect was updated more recently, on August 13, 2026; Kadence Security on July 27, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Kadence Security
Pick Kadence Security if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
PDF Password Protect
Pick PDF Password Protect if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Kadence Security vs PDF Password Protect side by side
| Kadence Security | PDF Password Protect | |
|---|---|---|
| Password Protection Plugins ranking | #4 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 5.0 |
| Reviews | 3,990 | 1 |
| Active installs | 700,000+ | 200+ |
| Total downloads | 39,152,851 | 5,706 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 27, 2026 | Aug 13, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 23, 2010 | Sep 15, 2022 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.2.5 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Kadence Security ratings
PDF Password Protect ratings
How we compare these two
Every figure here is pulled from the WordPress.org plugin API every day at 03:00 UTC, for both plugins in the same run, so the two are always read on the same day. We compare only what the directory reports: active installs, the rating and how many reviews stand behind it, the last release date and, once we have a month of history, downloads over the last 30 days. Ratings are only called a win above 50 reviews each, because a handful of five-star reviews is not evidence. Nothing is weighted into an overall score, no measure is worth more than another, and neither Kadence Security nor PDF Password Protect can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Password Protection Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Kadence Security vs PDF Password Protect: common questions
Is Kadence Security better than PDF Password Protect?
Kadence Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Kadence Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #7 in Password Protection Plugins.
Which has more users, Kadence Security or PDF Password Protect?
Kadence Security ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #7 in Password Protection Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Kadence Security or PDF Password Protect?
Kadence Security has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 200+.
Are Kadence Security and PDF Password Protect free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Kadence Security is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. PDF Password Protect may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Kadence Security and PDF Password Protect
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Limit Login Attempts Security
1 million+ installs · 4.8 from 1,481 reviews
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Security and Firewall
1 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,715 reviews
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Jetpack
3 million+ installs · 3.7 from 2,406 reviews
-
Wordfence Security
5 million+ installs · 4.7 from 4,992 reviews
-
Security Optimizer
1 million+ installs · 4.5 from 157 reviews
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What moved this week
One email a week, built from the same daily snapshots these rankings come from: the plugins that climbed, what launched, and one ranking worth a look.