WPAuth vs WP 2-step verification (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 WP 2-step verification at #7. WPAuth leads on 5 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).
WP 2-step verification
Adds an extra layer of security to your Wordpress Account. Same as Google 2-step verification.
Who leads on what
WPAuth leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
WPAuth ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #7 in Authentication Plugins.
WPAuth has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: WPAuth has 64, WP 2-step verification has 27. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
WPAuth has more reviews behind its score: 64 against 27.
WPAuth was updated more recently, on September 29, 2026; WP 2-step verification on October 10, 2025.
WPAuth was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 3,856 times against 415.
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 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, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
WP 2-step verification
WP 2-step verification does not lead on any measure we track, so pick it only for something these numbers cannot show, such as a feature you need.
WPAuth vs WP 2-step verification side by side
| WPAuth | WP 2-step verification | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #5 | #7 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 64 | 27 |
| Active installs | 10,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 683,380 | 83,620 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 3,856 | 415 |
| Last updated | Sep 29, 2026 | Oct 10, 2025 |
| First published | Nov 26, 2013 | Aug 10, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 6.8.11 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 5.6.0 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
WPAuth 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 WPAuth 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.
WPAuth vs WP 2-step verification: common questions
Is WPAuth better than WP 2-step verification?
WPAuth leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. WPAuth ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #7 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, WPAuth or WP 2-step verification?
WPAuth ranks higher on WordPress.org: #5 against #7 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, WPAuth or WP 2-step verification?
WPAuth has more users: 10,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are WPAuth and WP 2-step verification free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. WPAuth may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP 2-step verification may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to WPAuth and WP 2-step verification
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Duo Universal
2,000+ installs · 4.0 from 1 reviews
-
Duo Two-Factor Authentication
3,000+ installs · 3.7 from 39 reviews
-
Two Factor Authentication via Email
9,000+ installs · 5.0 from 4 reviews
-
miniOrange 2FA
10,000+ installs · 4.5 from 385 reviews
-
Google Authenticator
20,000+ installs · 4.3 from 135 reviews
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- WPAuth vs Two Factor
- WPAuth vs Two Factor Authentication via Email
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.