Protect the Children! vs Password Protect (September 2026)
Updated September 7, 2026 · Data from WordPress.org, refreshed daily · How this works
Both rank in the WordPress.org Password Protection Plugins top 10: Protect the Children! at #6 and Password Protect at #10. Protect the Children! leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Protect the Children!
Easily password protect the child pages/posts of a post/page that is password protected.
Password Protect
Password Protect – Temporary Login Without Password & Password Protect Entire Site
Password Protect entire site & create Temporary Login Without Password links. Simple & secure access for developers or maintenance.
Who leads on what
Protect the Children! leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Protect the Children! ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in Password Protection Plugins.
Protect the Children! has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 100+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Protect the Children! has 15, Password Protect has 3. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Protect the Children! has more reviews behind its score: 15 against 3.
Password Protect was updated more recently, on August 14, 2026; Protect the Children! on February 17, 2026.
Which one to pick
Each plugin is the better answer for the measure it actually leads on. Nothing here is a recommendation we invented.
Protect the Children!
Pick Protect the Children! if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the score backed by more reviews.
Password Protect
Pick Password Protect if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Protect the Children! vs Password Protect side by side
| Protect the Children! | Password Protect | |
|---|---|---|
| Password Protection Plugins ranking | #6 | #10 |
| Rating | 4.9 | 3.7 |
| Reviews | 15 | 3 |
| Active installs | 1,000+ | 100+ |
| Total downloads | 23,946 | 2,917 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Feb 17, 2026 | Aug 14, 2026 |
| First published | Jul 24, 2017 | Oct 16, 2024 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.7 | 7.1 |
| Requires PHP | 8.1 | 7.4 |
| Pricing | Free on WordPress.org | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Protect the Children! ratings
Password Protect 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 Protect the Children! nor Password Protect can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Password Protection Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Protect the Children! vs Password Protect: common questions
Is Protect the Children! better than Password Protect?
Protect the Children! leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Neither is better at everything, and the answer depends on which measure you weigh. Protect the Children! ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in Password Protection Plugins.
Which has more users, Protect the Children! or Password Protect?
Protect the Children! ranks higher on WordPress.org: #6 against #10 in Password Protection Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Protect the Children! or Password Protect?
Protect the Children! has more users: 1,000+ active installs against 100+.
Are Protect the Children! and Password Protect free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Protect the Children! may also sell a paid version or add-ons. Password Protect may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Protect the Children! and Password Protect
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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What moved this week
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