Google Authenticator 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: Google Authenticator at #4 and WP 2-step verification at #6. Google Authenticator leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Google Authenticator
Google Authenticator for your WordPress blog.
WP 2-step verification
Adds an extra layer of security to your Wordpress Account. Same as Google 2-step verification.
Who leads on what
Google Authenticator leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Google Authenticator has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Google Authenticator has 135, WP 2-step verification has 27. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Google Authenticator has more reviews behind its score: 135 against 27.
Google Authenticator was updated more recently, on August 23, 2026; WP 2-step verification on October 10, 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.
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 shipping releases most recently.
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.
Google Authenticator vs WP 2-step verification side by side
| Google Authenticator | WP 2-step verification | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #4 | #6 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 135 | 27 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 753,139 | 83,058 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Oct 10, 2025 |
| First published | May 16, 2011 | Aug 10, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1 | 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.
Google Authenticator 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 Google Authenticator 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.
Google Authenticator vs WP 2-step verification: common questions
Is Google Authenticator better than WP 2-step verification?
Google Authenticator leads on 4 of the 5 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 #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Google Authenticator or WP 2-step verification?
Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Google Authenticator or WP 2-step verification?
Google Authenticator has more users: 20,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Google Authenticator and WP 2-step verification free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Google Authenticator may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP 2-step verification may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Google Authenticator and WP 2-step verification
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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