Fernet Encryption
Fernet Encryption is a plugin that can be used to encrypt and decrypt data in WordPress using fernet.
Consider an alternative
Fernet Encryption shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 2 years ago, and scores 26/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (10+ active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- No update in over a year
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.7 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & supportDaily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Fernet Encryption stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| encryption | >100 |
| fernet | #1 |
| security | >100 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
About Fernet Encryption
From the official readme · v1.1.0Description
Fernet Encryption is a plugin that can be used to encrypt and decrypt data in WordPress using fernet.
Development was originally sponsered by Access Networks.
Setup your Key
To setup your key, you need to add the following line to your wp-config file.
`
define( ‘FERNET_KEY’, ‘YOUR_FERNET_KEY’ );
`
If you choose not to setup your key, you will need to save a copy of the one provided upon activation of the plugin.
IMPORTANT: Changing your WordPress salts will invalidate the default Fernet key provided.
How to Use
To encrypt data simply use $token = fernet_encrypt( 'YOUR MESSAGE' ) in your code.
To decrypt the data simply use fernet_decrypt( $token ) in your code.
You can use the following shortcode to encrypt:
[fernet-encrypt]YOUR MESSAGE[/fernet-encrypt]
You can use the following shortcode to decrypt:
[fernet-decrypt]YOUR-FERNET-TOKEN[/fernet-decrypt]
We have also added useful helper functions:
- fernet_get_post_meta
- fernet_add_post_meta
- fernet_update_post_meta
- fernet_get_user_meta
- fernet_add_user_meta
- fernet_update_user_meta
- fernet_add_option
- fernet_get_option
- fernet_update_option
Credit
- Illustrations provided by undraw.co
- Fernent PHP modified from Kelvin Mo – Fernet-PHP
Changelog
1.0.7
- Readme improvements
1.0.6
- Add support for WordPress Rest API.
- Add support for WordPress CLI.
1.0.5
- Added Helper Functions.
1.0.4
- Updated Readme
1.0.3
- Updated Readme.
- Provided shortcodes for encrypting and decrypting.
1.0.0
- First release.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
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Best Fernet Encryption alternatives
All encryption plugins →FAQ
Fernet Encryption: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 15, 2026
Is Fernet Encryption free?
Yes. Fernet Encryption is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Fernet Encryption safe to use in 2026?
Fernet Encryption shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. It runs on 10+ sites and was last updated 2 years ago, and scores 26/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Fernet Encryption?
Fernet Encryption is active on 10+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 1,944 times since it launched in September 2021. It was downloaded 41 times in the last 30 days.
Does Fernet Encryption work with WordPress 7.1?
Fernet Encryption is officially tested up to WordPress 6.7.10, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
What PHP version does Fernet Encryption need?
Fernet Encryption requires PHP 8.0 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was Fernet Encryption last updated?
The latest version, 1.1.0, was released on January 5, 2025 (2 years ago).
Who makes Fernet Encryption?
Fernet Encryption is developed and maintained by Hubbard Labs.
What are the best alternatives to Fernet Encryption?
The most popular alternatives to Fernet Encryption are Email Address Encoder (100K+ installs), WP PGP Encrypted Emails (400+ installs) and WP Hashed IDs (100+ installs).
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