WPAuth vs Google Authenticator (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Authentication Plugins top 10: WPAuth at #5 and Google Authenticator at #4. Google Authenticator leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
WPAuth
Login for Google Apps by WPAuth
Simple secure login and user management through your Google Workspace for WordPress (using oAuth2 and MFA if enabled).
Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator for your WordPress blog.
Who leads on what
Google Authenticator leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in Authentication Plugins.
Google Authenticator has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
WPAuth is rated higher: 4.6 out of 5 from 64 reviews, against 4.3 from 135 reviews.
Google Authenticator has more reviews behind its score: 135 against 64.
WPAuth was updated more recently, on September 29, 2026; Google Authenticator on August 23, 2026.
Google Authenticator was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 9,113 times against 3,856.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
WPAuth
Pick WPAuth if the review score matters most to you or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Google Authenticator
Pick Google Authenticator 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 being installed faster right now.
WPAuth vs Google Authenticator side by side
| WPAuth | Google Authenticator | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #5 | #4 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Reviews | 64 | 135 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Total downloads | 683,380 | 765,926 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 3,856 | 9,113 |
| Last updated | Sep 29, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 |
| First published | Nov 26, 2013 | May 16, 2011 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | – |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
WPAuth ratings
Google Authenticator 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 WPAuth nor Google Authenticator can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
WPAuth vs Google Authenticator: common questions
Is WPAuth better than Google Authenticator?
Google Authenticator leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, WPAuth or Google Authenticator?
Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #5 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, WPAuth or Google Authenticator?
Google Authenticator has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 10,000+.
Are WPAuth and Google Authenticator free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. WPAuth may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Google Authenticator may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to WPAuth and Google Authenticator
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
More Authentication Plugins comparisons
- BaseCloud Shield vs Google Authenticator
- Kadence Security vs WPAuth
- Kadence Security vs Google Authenticator
- Duo Universal vs WPAuth
- Duo Universal vs Google Authenticator
- Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs WPAuth
- Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs Google Authenticator
- WPAuth vs Limit Login Attempts
- WPAuth vs miniOrange 2FA
- WPAuth vs Two Factor
- WPAuth vs Two Factor Authentication via Email
- WPAuth vs Wordfence Security
Weekly · free
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.