Groups vs Authenticator (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Authenticator has a higher user rating (5/5 from 8 reviews) while Groups leads in active installations (10K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Groups has accumulated 991K+ total downloads while Authenticator has 97K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Groups | Authenticator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 380 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 10K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 991K+ | ◄ | 97K+ |
| Support Resolution | 100% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 week ago | ◄ | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2008 | |
| Age | 14 years | 18 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.7+ | 5.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.1.0 | 1.3.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Groups
Authenticator
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Groups averaged approximately 345 daily downloads while Authenticator averaged 11.
Recent Reviews
Groups Reviews
Simple access restriction that really works
I’ve been using this plugin for a number of years on our documentation website. I create documentation for all of my clients in one single website, and then I restrict access to the pages so that each
Super!
…
Clean simple plug-in that works as expected!
I needed a simple solution for member only pages and this plug-in works great!
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
More Access Worth Comparing
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The permissions plugin for posts, pages, categories, tags and more. You can control permissions for roles, individual users, and even custom groups.
With the "User Access Manager"-plugin you can manage the access to your posts, pages and files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Groups or Authenticator more popular?
Which has better ratings — Groups or Authenticator?
Are Groups and Authenticator free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.