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Limit Login Attempts #8 in Authentication Plugins
Two Factor Authentication via Email #3 in Authentication Plugins

Limit Login Attempts vs Two Factor Authentication via Email (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 Authentication via Email at #3. They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.

Limit Login Attempts

4.6 (202) 300,000+ active installs #8 in Authentication Plugins

Limit rate of login attempts, including by way of cookies, for each IP. Fully customizable.

Two Factor Authentication via Email

Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email

5.0 (4) 9,000+ active installs #3 in Authentication Plugins

Enable one-click login with this WordPress Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) plugin, utilizing email for added security.

Who leads on what

They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most.

Authentication Plugins ranking Two Factor Authentication via Email

Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Authentication Plugins.

Users Limit Login Attempts

Limit Login Attempts has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 9,000+.

Rating Tie

Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Limit Login Attempts has 202, Two Factor Authentication via Email has 4. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.

Reviews Limit Login Attempts

Limit Login Attempts has more reviews behind its score: 202 against 4.

Maintenance Two Factor Authentication via Email

Two Factor Authentication via Email was updated more recently, on June 21, 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 or you want the score backed by more reviews.

Two Factor Authentication via Email

Pick Two Factor Authentication via Email if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them or you want the one shipping releases most recently.

Limit Login Attempts vs Two Factor Authentication via Email side by side

Limit Login Attempts Two Factor Authentication via Email
Authentication Plugins ranking #8 #3
Rating 4.6 5.0
Reviews 202 4
Active installs 300,000+ 9,000+
Total downloads 2,301,921 61,647
Downloads, last 30 days
Last updated Apr 4, 2023 Jun 21, 2026
First published Jan 15, 2009 Mar 15, 2023
Tested up to WordPress 6.2.11 7.0.4
Requires PHP 5.6
Pricing Free on WordPress.org Free on WordPress.org

30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.

Limit Login Attempts ratings

5★
170
4★
13
3★
3
2★
4
1★
12

Two Factor Authentication via Email ratings

5★
4
4★
0
3★
0
2★
0
1★
0

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 Authentication via Email 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 Authentication via Email: common questions

Is Limit Login Attempts better than Two Factor Authentication via Email?

They split the 5 measures we track, so the choice comes down to which one you weigh most. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Authentication Plugins.

Which has more users, Limit Login Attempts or Two Factor Authentication via Email?

Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #8 in Authentication Plugins.

Which is rated higher, Limit Login Attempts or Two Factor Authentication via Email?

Limit Login Attempts has more users: 300,000+ active installs against 9,000+.

Are Limit Login Attempts and Two Factor Authentication via Email free?

Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Limit Login Attempts may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Two Factor Authentication via Email may also sell a paid version or add-ons.

Alternatives to Limit Login Attempts and Two Factor Authentication via Email

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