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Best protected plugins for WordPress

The most popular protected plugins for WordPress in November 2026, in WordPress.org’s own popular order, which follows active installs. Force Login leads with 30K+ active installs, ahead of WP Basic Authentication (2K+) and Multiple Post Passwords (2K+). All 21 plugins tagged “protected” are below, with figures from WordPress.org that update every day.

Installs aren’t everything: a recent release, a “Tested up to” that matches the current WordPress, and support threads that get resolved show a plugin is looked after. Open any plugin for its downloads, rank history and alternatives.

Research this niche or see all plugins.

Top 10 protected plugins

  1. 1.
    Force Login

    The most installed protected plugin, with 30K+ active installs. Rated 4.8 from 101 reviews, updated 4 months ago.

  2. 2.
    WP Basic Authentication

    2K+ active installs. Rated 5.0 from 5 reviews, updated 5 months ago.

  3. 3.
    Multiple Post Passwords

    2K+ active installs. Rated 5.0 from 11 reviews, updated 9 months ago. Tested only up to WordPress 6.8.12.

  4. 4.
    BuddyPress Members Only

    900+ active installs. Rated 3.7 from 26 reviews, last updated 1 year ago. Tested only up to WordPress 6.8.12.

  5. 5.
    Password Passthrough

    500+ active installs. Rated 5.0 from 6 reviews, last updated 1 year ago. Tested only up to WordPress 6.8.12.

  6. 6.
    FT Password Protect Children Pages

    400+ active installs. Only 4 reviews so far, last updated 16 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 3.0.5.

  7. 7.
    Remove Protected

    300+ active installs. Rated 4.6 from 9 reviews, last updated 9 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 4.7.39.

  8. 8.
    Very Simple Password for WordPress

    200+ active installs. Rated 4.6 from 10 reviews, last updated 9 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 4.7.39.

  9. 9.
    Custom Password Protected Text

    100+ active installs. Rated 5.0 from 5 reviews, last updated 14 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 3.4.2.

  10. 10.
    bbPress Protected Forums

    90+ active installs. Only 3 reviews so far, last updated 14 years ago. Tested only up to WordPress 3.4.2.

All 21 plugins tagged “protected”