Controlled Admin Access vs Access Areas for WordPress (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
Access Areas for WordPress
400 active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Controlled Admin Access has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 44 reviews) and leads in active installations (10K+ vs 400). Both are free WordPress plugins. Controlled Admin Access has accumulated 218K+ total downloads while Access Areas for WordPress has 32K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Controlled Admin Access | Access Areas for WordPress | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ◄ | 4.5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 44 | ◄ | 17 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 400 |
| Total Downloads | 218K+ | ◄ | 32K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2015 | 2013 | |
| Age | 11 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.0+ | 4.6+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.0+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.1.2 | 1.5.22 |
Rating Breakdown
Controlled Admin Access
Access Areas for WordPress
Download Trends
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
Access Areas for WordPress Reviews
No reviews yet
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Controlled Admin Access or Access Areas for WordPress more popular?
Which has better ratings — Controlled Admin Access or Access Areas for WordPress?
Are Controlled Admin Access and Access Areas for WordPress free?
Which plugin has better support — Controlled Admin Access or Access Areas for WordPress?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.