Force Login vs WP Basic Authentication (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WP Basic Authentication has a higher user rating (5/5 from 5 reviews) while Force Login leads in active installations (30K+ vs 2.0K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. Force Login has accumulated 9.0M+ total downloads while WP Basic Authentication has 41K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Force Login | WP Basic Authentication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | ► | 5/5 |
| Total Reviews | 101 | ◄ | 5 |
| Active Installs | 30K+ | ◄ | 2.0K+ |
| Total Downloads | 9.0M+ | ◄ | 41K+ |
| Support Resolution | 0% | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 1 year ago | ► | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2014 | 2020 | |
| Age | 12 years | 6 years | |
| WP Requires | 4.6+ | 5.7+ | |
| PHP Requires | false+ | 7.4+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 5.6.3 | 1.1.1 |
Rating Breakdown
Force Login
WP Basic Authentication
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, Force Login averaged approximately 6,237 daily downloads while WP Basic Authentication averaged 50.
Recent Reviews
Force Login Reviews
Short and sweet, does what you need
It is nice to find such an easy-to-use plugin, that also has a way alter with some hooks, so if you don’t mind doing a little PHP you can specify certain pages can be visible.
Just Works!
I used this plugin to implement a security fence around our Members area. It’s easy. You have to have permalinks set up to include postname and then in the filter code just filter on the pages that
Simply works fine <3
This plugin does what it is expected to do. No fancy extras, no bloat. Simply works. I love it. Many thanks for the author.
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!
More Protected Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as Force Login and WP Basic Authentication
Set multiple passwords for your protected pages so you can give them to different users.
BuddyPress Members Only restricts Your Buddypress and Wordpress to logged in/registered members.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Force Login or WP Basic Authentication more popular?
Which has better ratings — Force Login or WP Basic Authentication?
Are Force Login and WP Basic Authentication free?
Which plugin has better support — Force Login or WP Basic Authentication?
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Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.