Google Authenticator vs Two Factor (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: Google Authenticator at #4 and Two Factor at #1. Two Factor leads on all 6 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator for your WordPress blog.
Two Factor
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), email, and backup verification codes.
Who leads on what
Two Factor leads on all 6 measures we track.
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in Authentication Plugins.
Two Factor has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Two Factor is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 208 reviews, against 4.3 from 135 reviews.
Two Factor has more reviews behind its score: 208 against 135.
Two Factor was updated more recently, on September 28, 2026; Google Authenticator on August 23, 2026.
Two Factor was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 151,045 times against 9,113.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator 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
Pick Two Factor if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run, the review score matters most to you, 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.
Google Authenticator vs Two Factor side by side
| Google Authenticator | Two Factor | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #4 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 135 | 208 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 765,926 | 1,941,495 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 9,113 | 151,045 |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2011 | Aug 10, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Google Authenticator 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 Google Authenticator nor Two Factor can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Google Authenticator vs Two Factor: common questions
Is Google Authenticator better than Two Factor?
Two Factor leads on all 6 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 #4 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Google Authenticator or Two Factor?
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #4 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Google Authenticator or Two Factor?
Two Factor has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are Google Authenticator and Two Factor free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Google Authenticator may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Two Factor is a community plugin with no paid version.
Alternatives to Google Authenticator and Two Factor
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
miniOrange 2FA
10,000+ installs · 4.5 from 385 reviews
-
Limit Login Attempts
300,000+ installs · 4.6 from 202 reviews
-
WPAuth
10,000+ installs · 4.6 from 64 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
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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.