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WP BASIC Auth vs HTTP Digest Authentication (2026)

Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.

WP BASIC Auth

WP BASIC Auth

3.6(7)

4.0K+ active installs

Free

Updated 3 years ago
View WP BASIC Auth
VS
HTTP Digest Authentication

HTTP Digest Authentication

4(5)

10 active installs

Free

Updated 8 years ago
View HTTP Digest Authentication

Quick Verdict

As of April 2026, HTTP Digest Authentication has a higher user rating (4/5 from 5 reviews) while WP BASIC Auth leads in active installations (4.0K+ vs 10). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP BASIC Auth has accumulated 123K+ total downloads while HTTP Digest Authentication has 5.0K+.

Detailed Comparison

Rating
3.6/5WP BASIC Auth
►
HTTP Digest Authentication4/5
Total Reviews
7WP BASIC Auth
◄
HTTP Digest Authentication5
Active Installs
4.0K+WP BASIC Auth
◄
HTTP Digest Authentication10
Total Downloads
123K+WP BASIC Auth
◄
HTTP Digest Authentication5.0K+
Support Resolution
N/AWP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest AuthenticationN/A
Last Updated
3 years agoWP BASIC Auth
◄
HTTP Digest Authentication8 years ago
First Released
2013WP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest Authentication2013
Age
13 yearsWP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest Authentication13 years
WP Requires
3.0+WP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest Authentication3.1.0+
PHP Requires
false+WP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest Authenticationfalse+
Business Model
FreeWP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest AuthenticationFree
Latest Version
1.1.4WP BASIC Auth
HTTP Digest Authentication1.2.1

Rating Breakdown

WP BASIC Auth

3.6/5(7 reviews)
5
43%
4
29%
3
0%
2
0%
1
29%

HTTP Digest Authentication

4/5(5 reviews)
5
60%
4
20%
3
0%
2
0%
1
20%

Recent Reviews

WP BASIC Auth Reviews

by Rhand

Awesome Plugin

Great plugin. Instead of setting up ht authentication yourself you can use this plugin and it will allow you to use an existing user and password to authenticate instead of adding one on top or for cr

by Amber Hinds

Doesn't block access to uploads folder

All media files can still be accessed via direct paths.

by zangetsu1

Pefect

Does exactly what’s expected.

HTTP Digest Authentication Reviews

No reviews yet

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WP BASIC Auth or HTTP Digest Authentication more popular?
WP BASIC Auth has 4.0K+ active installations while HTTP Digest Authentication has 10. WP BASIC Auth is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — WP BASIC Auth or HTTP Digest Authentication?
WP BASIC Auth has a 3.6/5 rating from 7 reviews, while HTTP Digest Authentication has a 4/5 rating from 5 reviews.
Are WP BASIC Auth and HTTP Digest Authentication free?
WP BASIC Auth is free and HTTP Digest Authentication is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — WP BASIC Auth or HTTP Digest Authentication?
Support resolution data is not available for all plugins. Check each plugin's WordPress.org support forum for current response quality.
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
WP BASIC Auth was last updated 3 years ago and HTTP Digest Authentication was last updated 8 years ago.

Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.