Simple Membership 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 Simple Membership leads in active installations (40K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Simple Membership has accumulated 3.3M+ total downloads while Authenticator has 97K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Simple Membership | Authenticator | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 466 | ◄ | 8 |
| Active Installs | 40K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 3.3M+ | ◄ | 97K+ |
| Support Resolution | 80% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 2 months ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2008 | |
| Age | 12 years | 18 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.0+ | 5.0+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 4.7.2 | 1.3.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Simple Membership
Authenticator
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Simple Membership averaged approximately 503 daily downloads while Authenticator averaged 11.
Recent Reviews
Simple Membership Reviews
Very good plugin for membership levels and control
I have tested various plugins for creating and controlling members in various levels. This is the only plugin which I trust totally. It is very easy to create user groups/levels and users in different
PERFETTO!
Questo plugin è la soluzione perfetta per chi vuole realizzare l’accesso a vari livelli di abbonamento (gratuito ma con registrazione delle credenziali, oppure a pagamento) per i propri utenti: chi
werkt zoals het hoort
Mooie plugin voor een basis login en membership.
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
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Simple Membership or Authenticator more popular?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.