Two Factor 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: Two Factor at #1 and Two Factor Authentication via Email at #3. Two Factor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track. Every number below comes straight from WordPress.org and is refreshed every day.
Two Factor
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), email, and backup verification codes.
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.
Who leads on what
Two Factor leads on 3 of the 5 measures we track.
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Authentication Plugins.
Two Factor has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
Not enough reviews to compare ratings fairly: Two Factor has 208, Two Factor Authentication via Email has 4. We compare ratings only above 50 reviews each.
Two Factor has more reviews behind its score: 208 against 4.
Two Factor Authentication via Email was updated more recently, on June 21, 2026; Two Factor on March 27, 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.
Two Factor
Pick Two Factor 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.
Two Factor Authentication via Email
Pick Two Factor Authentication via Email if you want the one shipping releases most recently.
Two Factor vs Two Factor Authentication via Email side by side
| Two Factor | Two Factor Authentication via Email | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #1 | #3 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| Reviews | 208 | 4 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 9,000+ |
| Total downloads | 1,766,517 | 61,647 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | – | – |
| Last updated | Mar 27, 2026 | Jun 21, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 10, 2015 | Mar 15, 2023 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 6.9.7 | 7.0.4 |
| Requires PHP | 7.2 | 5.6 |
| Pricing | Free | Free on WordPress.org |
30-day download figures appear after both plugins have 30 days of tracking.
Two Factor ratings
Two Factor Authentication via Email 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 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.
Two Factor vs Two Factor Authentication via Email: common questions
Is Two Factor better than Two Factor Authentication via Email?
Two Factor 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 ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Two Factor or Two Factor Authentication via Email?
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #3 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Two Factor or Two Factor Authentication via Email?
Two Factor has more users: 100,000+ active installs against 9,000+.
Are Two Factor and Two Factor Authentication via Email free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Two Factor is a community plugin with no paid version. Two Factor Authentication via Email may also sell a paid version or add-ons.
Alternatives to Two Factor and Two Factor Authentication via Email
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.