Kadence Security vs Two Factor (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Authentication Plugins top 10: Kadence Security at #9 and Two Factor at #1. 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.
Two Factor
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), email, and backup verification codes.
Who leads on what
Kadence Security leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Authentication Plugins.
Kadence Security has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Two Factor is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 208 reviews, against 4.6 from 3,990 reviews.
Kadence Security has more reviews behind its score: 3,990 against 208.
Kadence Security was updated more recently, on July 27, 2026; Two Factor on March 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 want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Two Factor
Pick Two Factor if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or the review score matters most to you.
Kadence Security vs Two Factor side by side
| Kadence Security | Two Factor | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #9 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 3,990 | 208 |
| Active installs | 700,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 39,152,851 | 1,766,517 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jul 27, 2026 | Mar 27, 2026 |
| First published | Oct 23, 2010 | Aug 10, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free + paid version | Free |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Kadence Security ratings
Two Factor 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 Two Factor can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Kadence Security vs Two Factor: common questions
Is Kadence Security better than Two Factor?
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. Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Kadence Security or Two Factor?
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #9 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Kadence Security or Two Factor?
Kadence Security has more users: 700,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Kadence Security and Two Factor free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Kadence Security is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist. Two Factor is a community plugin with no paid version.
Alternatives to Kadence Security and Two Factor
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Security and Firewall
1 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,715 reviews
-
Limit Login Attempts Security
1 million+ installs · 4.8 from 1,481 reviews
-
Wordfence Security
5 million+ installs · 4.7 from 4,992 reviews
-
Jetpack
3 million+ installs · 3.7 from 2,406 reviews
-
miniOrange 2FA
10,000+ installs · 4.5 from 384 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.