Limit Login Attempts vs Two Factor (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: Limit Login Attempts at #8 and Two Factor at #1. Two Factor leads on 4 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Limit Login Attempts
Limit rate of login attempts, including by way of cookies, for each IP. Fully customizable.
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 4 of the 5 measures we track.
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Authentication Plugins.
Limit Login Attempts has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Two Factor is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 208 reviews, against 4.6 from 202 reviews.
Two Factor has more reviews behind its score: 208 against 202.
Two Factor was updated more recently, on March 27, 2026; Limit Login Attempts on April 4, 2023.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Limit Login Attempts
Pick Limit Login Attempts if you want the plugin more sites already run.
Two Factor
Pick Two Factor if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, the review score matters most to you, you want the score backed by more reviews or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Limit Login Attempts vs Two Factor side by side
| Limit Login Attempts | Two Factor | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #8 | #1 |
| Rating | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| Reviews | 202 | 208 |
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 100,000+ |
| Total downloads | 2,301,921 | 1,766,517 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Apr 4, 2023 | Mar 27, 2026 |
| First published | Jan 15, 2009 | Aug 10, 2015 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.2.11 | 6.9.7 |
| Requires PHP | – | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Limit Login Attempts 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 Limit Login Attempts nor Two Factor can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Limit Login Attempts vs Two Factor: common questions
Is Limit Login Attempts better than Two Factor?
Two Factor leads on 4 of the 5 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 #8 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Limit Login Attempts or Two Factor?
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #8 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Limit Login Attempts or Two Factor?
Limit Login Attempts has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Limit Login Attempts and Two Factor free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Limit Login Attempts may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Two Factor is a community plugin with no paid version.
Alternatives to Limit Login Attempts and Two Factor
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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