# Prevent Direct Access vs The Library

> Prevent Direct Access vs The Library compared on installs, downloads, ratings, updates, compatibility and support. Prevent Direct Access comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against The Library.

**Prevent Direct Access comes out ahead, winning 6 of 7 head-to-head checks against The Library.** Choose Prevent Direct Access if you care most about active installs, downloads (30 days) and reviews. Choose The Library if you care most about download trend.

| | Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files | The Library |
|---|---|---|
| Active installs | 10K+ ✅ | <10 |
| Downloads (30 days) | 3.8K ✅ | 40 |
| Download trend | -64.8% | +42.9% ✅ |
| Rating | 4.6/5 | — |
| Reviews | 297 ✅ | 0 |
| Health score | 88/100 ✅ | 30/100 |
| Last updated | 2 months ago ✅ | 1 year ago |
| Tested up to | WP 7.1.3 ✅ | WP 6.8.11 |
| Support resolved | 100% | — |
| Requires PHP | 7.0+ | 7.4+ |
| First released | Nov 2015 | Aug 2025 |

## Frequently asked questions

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

### Is Prevent Direct Access more popular than The Library?
Prevent Direct Access is the more popular of the two with 10K+ active installs, compared with <10 for The Library.

### Can I use Prevent Direct Access and The Library together?
Both plugins cover downloads, 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 Prevent Direct Access and The Library 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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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/compare/prevent-direct-access-vs-the-library/ · Generated 2026-10-20 20:14 UTC by PageForge