Two Factor vs Wordfence Security (October 2026)
Updated October 22, 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 Wordfence Security at #14. Wordfence Security leads on 4 of the 6 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.
Wordfence Security
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security
Firewall, Malware Scanner, Two Factor Auth, and Comprehensive Security Features, powered by our 24-hour team. Make security a priority with Wordfence.
Who leads on what
Wordfence Security leads on 4 of the 6 measures we track.
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #14 in Authentication Plugins.
Wordfence Security has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Two Factor is rated higher: 4.8 out of 5 from 208 reviews, against 4.7 from 5,030 reviews.
Wordfence Security has more reviews behind its score: 5,030 against 208.
Wordfence Security was updated more recently, on September 30, 2026; Two Factor on September 28, 2026.
Wordfence Security was downloaded more in the last 30 days: 4,349,413 times against 151,045.
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 or the review score matters most to you.
Wordfence Security
Pick Wordfence Security if you want the plugin more sites already run, you want the score backed by more reviews, you want the one shipping releases most recently or you want the one being installed faster right now.
Two Factor vs Wordfence Security side by side
| Two Factor | Wordfence Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication Plugins ranking | #1 | #14 |
| Rating | 4.8 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 208 | 5,030 |
| Active installs | 100,000+ | 5 million+ |
| Total downloads | 1,941,495 | 431,627,309 |
| Downloads, last 30 days | 151,045 | 4,349,413 |
| Last updated | Sep 28, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 |
| First published | Aug 10, 2015 | Apr 21, 2012 |
| Tested up to WordPress | 7.1.3 | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 7.0 |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid version |
Downloads per day, last 48 days
Two Factor ratings
Wordfence Security 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 Wordfence Security can pay to appear here: the pair exists only because both plugins reached the Authentication Plugins top 10. Full methodology.
Two Factor vs Wordfence Security: common questions
Is Two Factor better than Wordfence Security?
Wordfence Security leads on 4 of the 6 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 #14 in Authentication Plugins.
Which has more users, Two Factor or Wordfence Security?
Two Factor ranks higher on WordPress.org: #1 against #14 in Authentication Plugins.
Which is rated higher, Two Factor or Wordfence Security?
Wordfence Security has more users: 5 million+ active installs against 100,000+.
Are Two Factor and Wordfence Security free?
Both are free to install from WordPress.org. Two Factor is a community plugin with no paid version. Wordfence Security is listed as commercial, so a paid version or add-ons exist.
Alternatives to Two Factor and Wordfence Security
Plugins that score close to both in the same WordPress.org rankings and tags.
-
Limit Login Attempts Security
1 million+ installs · 4.8 from 1,488 reviews
-
Security and Firewall
1 million+ installs · 4.7 from 1,718 reviews
-
Jetpack
3 million+ installs · 3.7 from 2,407 reviews
-
Really Simple Security
3 million+ installs · 4.9 from 8,868 reviews
-
Admin and Site Enhancements
200,000+ installs · 5.0 from 424 reviews
More Authentication Plugins comparisons
- BaseCloud Shield vs Two Factor
- Kadence Security vs Two Factor
- Duo Universal vs Two Factor
- Duo Universal vs Wordfence Security
- Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs Two Factor
- Duo Two-Factor Authentication vs Wordfence Security
- WPAuth vs Two Factor
- WPAuth vs Wordfence Security
- Google Authenticator vs Two Factor
- Google Authenticator vs Wordfence Security
- Limesnip Simple2FA vs Two Factor
- Limit Login Attempts vs Two Factor
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.