Two Factor Authentication via Email 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: Two Factor Authentication via Email at #3 and WP 2-step verification at #6. Two Factor Authentication via Email leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Two Factor Authentication via Email
Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email
Enable one-click login with this WordPress Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) plugin, utilizing email for added security.
WP 2-step verification
Adds an extra layer of security to your Wordpress Account. Same as Google 2-step verification.
Who leads on what
Two Factor Authentication via Email leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Two Factor Authentication via Email has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Two Factor Authentication via Email has 4, WP 2-step verification has 27. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
WP 2-step verification has more reviews behind its score: 27 against 4.
Two Factor Authentication via Email was updated more recently, on June 21, 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.
Two Factor Authentication via Email
Pick Two Factor Authentication via Email if you go by where WordPress.org itself puts them, you want the plugin more sites already run or you want the one shipping releases most recently.
WP 2-step verification
Pick WP 2-step verification if you want the score backed by more reviews.
Two Factor Authentication via Email vs WP 2-step verification side by side
| Two Factor Authentication via Email | WP 2-step verification | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #3 | #6 |
| Rating | 5.0 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 4 | 27 |
| Active installs | 9,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Total downloads | 61,647 | 83,058 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Jun 21, 2026 | Oct 10, 2025 |
| First published | Mar 15, 2023 | Aug 10, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.0.4 | 6.8.8 |
| Requires PHP | 5.6 | 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.
Two Factor Authentication via Email 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 Two Factor Authentication via Email 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.
Two Factor Authentication via Email vs WP 2-step verification: common questions
Is Two Factor Authentication via Email better than WP 2-step verification?
Two Factor Authentication via Email leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. 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 #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Two Factor Authentication via Email or WP 2-step verification?
Two Factor Authentication via Email ranks higher on WordPress.org: #3 against #6 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Two Factor Authentication via Email or WP 2-step verification?
Two Factor Authentication via Email has more users: 9,000+ active installs against 1,000+.
Are Two Factor Authentication via Email and WP 2-step verification free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Two Factor Authentication via Email may also sell a paid version or add-ons. WP 2-step verification may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Two Factor Authentication via Email and WP 2-step verification
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
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Weekly · free
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.