Duo Universal vs Two Factor Authentication via Email (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: Duo Universal at #7 and Two Factor Authentication via Email at #3. Two Factor Authentication via Email leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Duo Universal
Easily add Duo authentication to your WordPress website. Enable multi-factor authentication for your admins and/or users.
Two Factor Authentication via Email
Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email
Enable one-click login with this WordPress Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) plugin, utilizing email for added security.
Who leads on what
Two Factor Authentication via Email leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Authentication Plugins.
Two Factor Authentication via Email has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Duo Universal has 1, Two Factor Authentication via Email has 4. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Two Factor Authentication via Email has more reviews behind its score: 4 against 1.
Two Factor Authentication via Email was updated more recently, on June 21, 2026; Duo Universal on January 6, 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.
Duo Universal
Duo Universal does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
Two Factor Authentication via Email
Pick Two Factor Authentication via Email if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, 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.
Duo Universal vs Two Factor Authentication via Email side by side
| Duo Universal | Two Factor Authentication via Email | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #7 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Reviews | 1 | 4 |
| Active installs | 2,000+ | 9,000+ |
| Total downloads | 19,883 | 61,647 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jan 6, 2026 | Jun 21, 2026 |
| First published | Feb 27, 2024 | Mar 15, 2023 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.7 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.3.16 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Duo Universal ratings
Two Factor Authentication via Email 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 Duo Universal nor Two Factor Authentication via Email can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Duo Universal vs Two Factor Authentication via Email: common questions
Is Duo Universal better than Two Factor Authentication via Email?
Two Factor Authentication via Email leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Duo Universal or Two Factor Authentication via Email?
Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #7 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Duo Universal or Two Factor Authentication via Email?
Two Factor Authentication via Email has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 2,000+.
Are Duo Universal and Two Factor Authentication via Email free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Duo Universal may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Two Factor Authentication via Email may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Duo Universal and Two Factor Authentication via Email
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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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.