Google Authenticator vs WP 2FA (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 WP 2FA at #10. WP 2FA leads on 5 of the 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.
WP 2FA
WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress
Get better WordPress login security; add two-factor authentication (2FA) for all your users with this easy-to-use plugin.
Who leads on what
WP 2FA leads on 5 of the 6 measures we track.
Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in Authentication Plugins.
WP 2FA has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
WP 2FA is rated higher: 4.7 out of 5 from 183 reviews, against 4.3 from 135 reviews.
WP 2FA has more reviews behind its score: 183 against 135.
WP 2FA was updated more recently, on October 14, 2026; Google Authenticator on August 23, 2026.
WP 2FA was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 165,011 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
Pick Google Authenticator if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them.
WP 2FA
Pick WP 2FA if 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 WP 2FA side by side
| Google Authenticator | WP 2FA | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #4 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 135 | 183 |
| Active installs | 20,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 765,926 | 2,026,265 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 9,113 | 165,011 |
| Last updated | Aug 23, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 |
| First published | May 16, 2011 | Mar 20, 2020 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Google Authenticator ratings
WP 2FA 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 2FA can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Google Authenticator vs WP 2FA: common questions
Is Google Authenticator better than WP 2FA?
WP 2FA leads on 5 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 #10 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Google Authenticator or WP 2FA?
Google Authenticator ranks higher on WordPress.org: #4 against #10 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Google Authenticator or WP 2FA?
WP 2FA has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 20,000+.
Are Google Authenticator and WP 2FA free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Google Authenticator may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP 2FA may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Google Authenticator and WP 2FA
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.