Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… vs Protect Uploads (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Password Protected — Lock Entire Site…
300K+ active installs
Free + Premium
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Protect Uploads has a higher user rating (4.8/5 from 12 reviews) while Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… leads in active installations (300K+ vs 40K+). Both are free + premium WordPress plugins. Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… has accumulated 6.9M+ total downloads while Protect Uploads has 1.4M+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… | Protect Uploads | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4/5 | ► | 4.8/5 |
| Total Reviews | 136 | ◄ | 12 |
| Active Installs | 300K+ | ◄ | 40K+ |
| Total Downloads | 6.9M+ | ◄ | 1.4M+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 3 months ago | ► | 3 months ago |
| First Released | 2012 | 2015 | |
| Age | 14 years | 11 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 5.6+ | 7.0+ | |
| Business Model | Free + Premium | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.7.12 | 0.6.0 |
Rating Breakdown
Password Protected — Lock Entire Site…
Protect Uploads
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… averaged approximately 944 daily downloads while Protect Uploads averaged 496.
Recent Reviews
Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… Reviews
Useless for me
I need a homepage public. I want to lock out everything else. This was the top result for this feature, but it is locked behind a paywall. Exclusion of a few pages should be included or at least the h
Premium version is worth it
easy to customize; support is fast
I appreciate the support
While it took a while to get the plugin working with my website, the support team was able to assist me through the more technical issues and it now works without a hitch!
Protect Uploads Reviews
Thanks!
Thanks!
Doesn’t work at all
Tried with “Protect with index.php files“ Tried with “Protect with .htaccess file“ Neither one works. PDF happily appears in another browser where I’m not logged in, it’s got a little menu, it
Don’t be fooled by fake reviews.
This plugin is not malware.The ‘malware’ you claim is a ‘fake plug-in’ created by a web server being hacked.A year after downloading this plug-in from the official WordPress.org , my site is still ver
More Password Protection Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… and Protect Uploads
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Password protect WordPress pages and posts by user roles or with multiple passwords; protect your entire website with a single password.
Password Protect Pages, Posts & Content in WordPress
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… or Protect Uploads more popular?
Which has better ratings — Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… or Protect Uploads?
Are Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… and Protect Uploads free?
Which plugin has better support — Password Protected — Lock Entire Site… or Protect Uploads?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.