# bbPress Protected Forums vs Restrict User Access

> bbPress Protected Forums vs Restrict User Access compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. Restrict User Access comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums.

**Restrict User Access comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums.** Choose bbPress Protected Forums if you care most about download trend. Choose Restrict User Access if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.

| | bbPress Protected Forums | Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 90+ | 10K+ ✅ |
| Downloads (30 days) | 181 | 8.9K ✅ |
| Download trend | +11.7% ✅ | -12.1% |
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Reviews | 3 | 94 ✅ |
| Health score | 32/100 | 76/100 ✅ |
| Last updated | 14 years ago | 23 hours ago ✅ |
| Tested up to | WP 3.4.2 | WP 7.1.3 ✅ |
| Support resolved | — | 0% |
| Requires PHP | Any | 7.2+ |
| First released | Sep 2012 | Mar 2015 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better, bbPress Protected Forums or Restrict User Access?
Restrict User Access comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums. Choose bbPress Protected Forums if you care most about download trend. Choose Restrict User Access if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.

### Is bbPress Protected Forums more popular than Restrict User Access?
Restrict User Access is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with 90+ for bbPress Protected Forums.

### Can I use bbPress Protected Forums and Restrict User Access together?
Both plugins cover bbPress, so most sites only need one. Running two plugins that do the same job can cause conflicts and slow your site down — pick the one that fits best and remove the other.

### Are bbPress Protected Forums and Restrict User Access free?
Yes. Both are free to download from the official WordPress.org plugin directory. Either may also offer paid upgrades from its developer.


---
Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/bbpress-protected-forums-vs-restrict-user-access/ · Generated 2026-10-11 06:41 UTC by PageForge