Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… vs Simple Restrict (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses…
90K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 89 reviews) and leads in active installations (90K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… has accumulated 1.8M+ total downloads while Simple Restrict has 33K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… | Simple Restrict | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | 4.9/5 | |
| Total Reviews | 89 | ◄ | 15 |
| Active Installs | 90K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.8M+ | ◄ | 33K+ |
| Support Resolution | 67% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 5 days ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2010 | 2016 | |
| Age | 16 years | 10 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.7+ | 3.4+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.4.5 | 1.2.8 |
Rating Breakdown
Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses…
Simple Restrict
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… averaged approximately 1,893 daily downloads while Simple Restrict averaged 6.
Recent Reviews
Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… Reviews
Nice Free Plugin
Good free plugin. I hope it will soon be able to automatically recognize phone numbers
Been using it for years!
I’m actually impressed that it’s still free.
Excellent plugin and support
Excellent plugin and support. Highly recommended.
Simple Restrict Reviews
Not for All Pages
This plugin cannot hide the content of pages created with template files.
OMG! AMAZING RESTRICTION
WOW! This is a crazy good plugin, don’t leave home without it. This plugin can be restricted pages more than other membership plugins can’t do… After I installed and set. The BuddyPress members page,
Awesome
I never review plugins – and I’ve got a pretty high bar for what’s acceptable in my book. This is an EXCELLENT plugin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… or Simple Restrict more popular?
Which has better ratings — Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… or Simple Restrict?
Are Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses… and Simple Restrict free?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.