Controlled Admin Access vs Authenticator (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Controlled Admin Access
10K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Authenticator has a higher user rating (5/5 from 8 reviews) while Controlled Admin Access leads in active installations (10K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Controlled Admin Access has accumulated 218K+ total downloads while Authenticator has 97K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Controlled Admin Access | Authenticator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 44 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 218K+ | ◄ | 97K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ► | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2008 | |
| Age | 11 years | 18 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.0+ | 5.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.1.2 | 1.3.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Controlled Admin Access
Authenticator
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Controlled Admin Access averaged approximately 44 daily downloads while Authenticator averaged 11.
Recent Reviews
Controlled Admin Access Reviews
Great Plugin
It’s a very great plugin. Thank you.
Perfect software
The software works perfectly. Something than can maybe be added is a way to log page view, of the admins we create. (Real time, or simply log events & display them onto a page), maybe with an email no
Excellent!
This is an extremely useful little plugin that not only makes it easier to provide admin access to outsiders but also to understand what actions they are taking and ensuring they don’t have access to
Authenticator Reviews
Functionality
perfect
I love simplicity
It doesn’t get easier than this. Thank you ♥
Indispensable
This is the first plugin I install on every new website to protect it until going live. Never had any problems with this handy piece of software. Thanks, Peter
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.