WPGraphQL vs JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs (2026)
Detailed side-by-side comparison of two WordPress plugins, based on real-time data from WordPress.org.
JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs
20K+ active installs
Free
Quick Verdict
As of April 2026, WPGraphQL has a higher user rating (4.9/5 from 48 reviews) and leads in active installations (30K+ vs 20K+). Both are free WordPress plugins. WPGraphQL has accumulated 1.4M+ total downloads while JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs has 493K+.
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | WPGraphQL | JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9/5 | ◄ | 4.4/5 |
| Total Reviews | 48 | ► | 73 |
| Active Installs | 30K+ | ◄ | 20K+ |
| Total Downloads | 1.4M+ | ◄ | 493K+ |
| Support Resolution | N/A | N/A | |
| Last Updated | 2 weeks ago | ◄ | 1 month ago |
| First Released | 2020 | 2019 | |
| Age | 6 years | 7 years | |
| WP Requires | 6.0+ | 3.0.1+ | |
| PHP Requires | 7.4+ | 5.6+ | |
| Business Model | Free | Free | |
| Latest Version | 2.10.1 | 4.3.0 |
Rating Breakdown
WPGraphQL
JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs
Download Trends
Over the past 30 days, WPGraphQL averaged approximately 1,239 daily downloads while JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs averaged 143.
Recent Reviews
WPGraphQL Reviews
Speedy
GraphQL vs. REST API 10 : 0 Thank you for this plugin. Building my headless application with WPGraphQL is fun. The repl interface to test queries is A+.
Performance performance performance
I’m so glad I decided to transition to a headless WP, and WPGraphQL made this possible, convenient and super fast.
Unreliable
I operate a large blog that uses WordPress as a headless CMS with a Next.JS frontend, which is largely enabled by this plugin. Let me just say first that creating an entire alternative third-party dat
JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs Reviews
5 Years of Excellence – Professionals You Can Truly Rely On!
After 5 years of using the paid version of this plugin, I must say I am beyond impressed. We use this plugin to secure our API and manage the access keys for our REST API, and for nearly the entire ti
Great Support
Great support from the MiniOrange team! Atul and Vidushi are very helpful and lightning fast to respond.
Great support.
Swapnil was very helpful in resolving my issue. I enjoyed the support received by the mini orange team.
More Rest Api Worth Comparing
Top alternatives in the same category as WPGraphQL and JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs
The WooCommerce Legacy REST API, which is now part of WooCommerce itself but will be removed in WooCommerce 9.0.
Disable the use of the REST API on your website to site users. Now with User Role support!
Make Connector. Make lets you design, build, and automate by connecting with WordPress in just a few clicks.
Extends the WP REST API using JSON Web Tokens Authentication as an authentication method.
Access your site's data through an easy-to-use HTTP REST API. (Version 2)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WPGraphQL or JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs more popular?
Which has better ratings — WPGraphQL or JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs?
Are WPGraphQL and JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs free?
Which plugin has better support — WPGraphQL or JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs?
Which plugin is updated more frequently?
Plugin data sourced from WordPress.org. Comparison and analysis by PluginSift.