WP Basic Authentication vs BuddyPress Members Only (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
BuddyPress Members Only
1.0K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Basic Authentication has a higher user rating (5/5 from 5 reviews) and leads in active installations (2.0K+ vs 1.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. WP Basic Authentication has accumulated 41K+ total downloads while BuddyPress Members Only has 119K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WP Basic Authentication | BuddyPress Members Only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | ◄ | 3.7/5 |
| Total Reviews | 5 | ► | 26 |
| Active Installs | 2.0K+ | ◄ | 1.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 41K+ | ► | 119K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 month ago | ◄ | 4 months ago |
| First Released | 2020 | 2014 | |
| Age | 6 years | 12 years | |
| WP Requires | 5.7+ | 3.8+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | false+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 1.1.1 | 3.6.3 |
Rating Breakdown
WP Basic Authentication
BuddyPress Members Only
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, WP Basic Authentication averaged approximately 50 daily downloads while BuddyPress Members Only averaged 9.
Recent Reviews
WP Basic Authentication Reviews
Very useful plugin
Like the title says, a very useful and easy to use plugin. This was exactly what I needed to make my blog only visible for some next to kin followers. Great job! 🙂
Still working perfectly
This plugin is still working perfectly, just as described.(Can you update the compatibility version? It shows this on install: “Warning: This plugin has not been tested with your current version of Wo
Works perfectly
Works just as expected. Thanks a lot!
BuddyPress Members Only Reviews
True membership plugin
if you are searching for a really extensive membership plugin this is the one. the pro version takes it to the max with the custom post type and specific url restrictions per user role. so not only g
SITE CRASH
After plugin installed, the buddypress website full crashed regards redirections, also admin surface too. Need remove all WP and buddypress plugin from DB too. So almost reinstall everything.
My site got crashed
I’m working on a new website/solution here, it’s almost done. When trying to use this plugin, it started to ask for a password on the homepage of my website. Even if I’m using my admin account, it was
More Protected Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as WP Basic Authentication and BuddyPress Members Only
Force Login is a simple lightweight plugin that requires visitors to log in to interact with the website.
Set multiple passwords for your protected pages so you can give them to different users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP Basic Authentication or BuddyPress Members Only more popular?
Which has better ratings — WP Basic Authentication or BuddyPress Members Only?
Are WP Basic Authentication and BuddyPress Members Only free?
Which plugin has better support — WP Basic Authentication or BuddyPress Members Only?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.