Head-to-head · October 2026
bbPress Protected Forums vs Restrict User Access
Restrict User Access comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against bbPress Protected Forums.
bbPress Protected Forums
bbPress Protected Forums adds a metabox, shown while editing a forum, that allows you to disable new topic…
Restrict User Access
Restrict User Access is a fast and simple Membership Plugin for WordPress. Restrict your content in minutes…
| Metric | bbPress Protected Forums | Restrict User Access |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 21 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 |
Daily downloads, last 90 days
bbPress Protected ForumsRestrict User Access
Choose bbPress Protected Forums if…
You care most about download trend.
- Small user base (90+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in 14 years
- Only tested up to WordPress 3.4 (latest is 7.1)
Choose Restrict User Access if…
You care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews.
- Proven at scale on 10K+ active sites
- Actively developed — last update 21 hours ago
- Tested with the latest WordPress (7.1)
Both compete in: bbPress
FAQ
bbPress Protected Forums vs Restrict User Access: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 11, 2026
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.
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