WP BASIC Auth vs MW Auth (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
VS
VS
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, MW Auth has a higher user rating (5/5 from 2 reviews) while WP BASIC Auth leads in active installations (4.0K+ vs 40). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP BASIC Auth has accumulated 123K+ total downloads while MW Auth has 2.7K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP BASIC Auth | MW Auth | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.6/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 7 | ◄ | 2 |
| Active Installs | 4.0K+ | ◄ | 40 |
| Total Downloads | 123K+ | ◄ | 2.7K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 years ago | ◄ | 11 years ago |
| First Released | 2013 | 2013 | |
| Age | 13 years | 13 years | |
| WP Requires | 3.0+ | 3.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.4 | 1.2 |
Rating
3.6/5WP BASIC Auth
►MW Auth5/5
Total Reviews
7WP BASIC Auth
◄MW Auth2
Active Installs
4.0K+WP BASIC Auth
◄MW Auth40
Total Downloads
123K+WP BASIC Auth
◄MW Auth2.7K+
Support Resolution
N/AWP BASIC Auth
MW AuthN/A
Last Updated
3 years agoWP BASIC Auth
◄MW Auth11 years ago
First Released
2013WP BASIC Auth
MW Auth2013
Age
13 yearsWP BASIC Auth
MW Auth13 years
WP Requires
3.0+WP BASIC Auth
MW Auth3.4+
PHP Requires
false+WP BASIC Auth
MW Authfalse+
Business Model
FreeWP BASIC Auth
MW AuthFree
Latest Version
1.1.4WP BASIC Auth
MW Auth1.2
Rating Breakdown
WP BASIC Auth
3.6/5(7 reviews)
5
43%
4
29%
3
0%
2
0%
1
29%
MW Auth
5/5(2 reviews)
5
100%
4
0%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%
Download Trends
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.
MW Auth Reviews
No reviews yet
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP BASIC Auth or MW Auth more popular?
WP BASIC Auth has 4.0K+ active installations while MW Auth has 40. WP BASIC Auth is the more widely-used plugin as of April 2026.
Which has better ratings — WP BASIC Auth or MW Auth?
WP BASIC Auth has a 3.6/5 rating from 7 reviews, while MW Auth has a 5/5 rating from 2 reviews.
Are WP BASIC Auth and MW Auth free?
WP BASIC Auth is free and MW Auth is free. Both can be downloaded from the WordPress.org plugin directory.
Which plugin has better support — WP BASIC Auth or MW Auth?
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 MW Auth was last updated 11 years ago.
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.