# Authenticator

> Authenticator has 1K+ active installs, a 5/5 rating from 8 reviews and 547 downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 54/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Use with caution.** Authenticator works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 8 months ago, and scores 54/100 on our health check.

**This plugin allows you to make your WordPress site accessible to logged in users only.**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 1K+
- **Total downloads:** 100,019
- **Downloads (30 days):** 547 (+20% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 5/5 from 8 reviews
- **Health score:** 54/100 (Fair)
- **Version:** 1.3.1
- **Last updated:** Jan 21, 2026
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 6.9.9
- **Requires:** WordPress 5.0+, PHP 5.6+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Syde GmbH (formerly Inpsyde) (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/inpsyde/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/authenticator/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [access](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/access/) | #9 | 83 |
| [accessible](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/accessible/) | #4 | 39 |
| [authentification](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/authentification/) | #1 | 1 |
| [login](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/login/) | #86 | 908 |
| [members](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/members/) | #10 | 143 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| access | >100 | 10,000 |
| accessible | #52 | 3,816 |
| authentification | #2 | 29 |
| login | >100 | 8,537 |
| members | >100 | 3,469 |

## Version adoption

- 1.3: 91%
- 1.2: 5.9%
- Other: 3.1%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Loginizer](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/loginizer/) | 1M+ | 4.8/5 (1,033) | Aug 19, 2026 | 87/100 |
| 2 | [User Role Editor](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/user-role-editor/) | 700K+ | 4.5/5 (288) | Sep 25, 2026 | 89/100 |
| 3 | [Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/members/) | 300K+ | 4.9/5 (1,277) | Aug 25, 2026 | 92/100 |
| 4 | [Remove Dashboard Access](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/remove-dashboard-access-for-non-admins/) | 30K+ | 4.6/5 (78) | May 22, 2026 | 74/100 |
| 5 | [User Access Manager](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/user-access-manager/) | 10K+ | 4.3/5 (113) | Sep 10, 2026 | 91/100 |
| 6 | [Groups – Memberships and Access Control](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/groups/) | 10K+ | 4.8/5 (382) | Sep 24, 2026 | 93/100 |
| 7 | [Controlled Admin Access](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/controlled-admin-access/) | 10K+ | 4.8/5 (45) | Aug 20, 2026 | 85/100 |
| 8 | [Simple Membership Form Shortcode](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/simple-membership-form-shortcode/) | 2K+ | 5/5 (2) | Aug 21, 2026 | 74/100 |
| 10 | [Groups 404 Redirect](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/groups-404-redirect/) | 1K+ | 4.6/5 (10) | Sep 25, 2026 | 80/100 |
| 11 | [Access Areas for WordPress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-access-areas/) | 400+ | 4.5/5 (17) | Dec 5, 2025 | 52/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Authenticator free?
Yes. Authenticator is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.

### Is Authenticator safe to use in 2026?
Authenticator works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 5/5 and was last updated 8 months ago, and scores 54/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use Authenticator?
Authenticator is active on 1K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 100,019 times since it launched in August 2008. It was downloaded 547 times in the last 30 days.

### Does Authenticator work with WordPress 7.1?
Authenticator is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.

### What PHP version does Authenticator need?
Authenticator requires PHP 5.6 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was Authenticator last updated?
The latest version, 1.3.1, was released on January 21, 2026 (8 months ago).

### Who makes Authenticator?
Authenticator is developed and maintained by Syde GmbH (formerly Inpsyde).

### What are the best alternatives to Authenticator?
The most popular alternatives to Authenticator are Loginizer (1M+ installs), User Role Editor (700K+ installs) and Members (300K+ installs).


---
Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/authenticator/ · Generated 2026-09-26 15:22 UTC by PageForge