Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs WP 2-step verification (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 Two-Factor Authentication at #5 and WP 2-step verification at #6. Duo Two-Factor Authentication leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication
Easily add Duo Security two-factor authentication to your WordPress website. Enable two-factor authentication for your admins and/or users.
WP 2-step verification
Adds an extra layer of security to your Wordpress Account. Same as Google 2-step verification.
Who leads on what
Duo Two-Factor Authentication leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication has more users: 3,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Duo Two-Factor Authentication has 39, WP 2-step verification has 27. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication has more reviews behind its score: 39 against 27.
WP 2-step verification was updated more recently, on October 10, 2025; Duo Two-Factor Authentication on June 6, 2025.
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 Two-Factor Authentication
Pick Duo Two-Factor Authentication 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.
WP 2-step verification
Pick WP 2-step verification if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs WP 2-step verification side by side
| Duo Two-Factor Authentication | WP 2-step verification | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #5 | #6 |
| Rating | 3.7 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 39 | 27 |
| Active installs | 3,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 192,667 | 83,058 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jun 6, 2025 | Oct 10, 2025 |
| First published | May 15, 2011 | Aug 10, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.0.14 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | – | 5.6.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication ratings
WP 2-step verification 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 Two-Factor Authentication nor WP 2-step verification can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs WP 2-step verification: common questions
Is Duo Two-Factor Authentication better than WP 2-step verification?
Duo Two-Factor Authentication leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Duo Two-Factor Authentication ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Duo Two-Factor Authentication or WP 2-step verification?
Duo Two-Factor Authentication ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Duo Two-Factor Authentication or WP 2-step verification?
Duo Two-Factor Authentication has more users: 3,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Duo Two-Factor Authentication and WP 2-step verification free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Duo Two-Factor Authentication may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP 2-step verification may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Duo Two-Factor Authentication and WP 2-step verification
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.