# JSON API Auth

> JSON API Auth has 600+ active installs, a 4.7/5 rating from 11 reviews and 1.1K downloads in the last 30 days. Health score 81/100, keyword rankings, version adoption and the best alternatives.

**Verdict: Safe pick.** Yes — JSON API Auth is a safe, well-maintained plugin to use in 2026. It runs on 600+ sites, is rated 4.7/5 and was last updated 1 week ago, and scores 81/100 on our health check.

**Extends the JSON API Plugin for RESTful user authentication**

## Key facts

- **Overall rank:** —
- **Active installs:** 600+
- **Total downloads:** 82,032
- **Downloads (30 days):** 1,090 (+194.6% vs previous 30 days)
- **Rating:** 4.7/5 from 11 reviews
- **Health score:** 81/100 (Excellent)
- **Version:** 3.1.3
- **Last updated:** Sep 25, 2026
- **Tested up to:** WordPress 7.1.2
- **Requires:** WordPress 3.0.1+, PHP 7.4+
- **Support resolved:** 0 of 0 threads (last 2 months)
- **Developer:** Ali Qureshi (https://pageforge.pro/directory/authors/parorrey/)
- **WordPress.org:** https://wordpress.org/plugins/json-api-auth/

## Category rankings

| Category | Rank | Plugins |
|---|---|---|
| [api](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/api/) | #31 | 496 |
| [authenticate user](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/authenticate-user/) | #1 | 1 |
| [json api](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/json-api/) | #3 | 13 |
| [wordpress user authentication](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/tag/wordpress-user-authentication/) | #1 | 1 |

## WordPress.org search positions

| Keyword | Position | Results |
|---|---|---|
| api | #22 | 10,000 |
| authenticate user | #3 | 1,039 |
| json api | #1 | 4,941 |
| wordpress user authentication | #52 | 3,383 |

## Version adoption

- 3.1: 34%
- 2.9: 18.6%
- 3.0: 11%
- 1.9: 5.9%
- 2.7: 5.7%
- Other: 24.9%

## Alternatives

| # | Name | Active installs | Rating | Updated | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [WP Consent API](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-consent-api/) | 200K+ | 5/5 (2) | Sep 15, 2026 | 86/100 |
| 2 | [Disable REST API](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disable-json-api/) | 80K+ | 4.8/5 (38) | Sep 14, 2023 | 48/100 |
| 3 | [Mailgun for WordPress](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/mailgun/) | 80K+ | 3.8/5 (49) | Sep 25, 2026 | 86/100 |
| 4 | [Make Connector](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/integromat-connector/) | 70K+ | 2.7/5 (25) | Feb 9, 2026 | 41/100 |
| 5 | [Disable WP REST API](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/disable-wp-rest-api/) | 30K+ | 4.8/5 (36) | Aug 10, 2026 | 86/100 |
| 6 | [WP REST Cache](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-rest-cache/) | 10K+ | 4.9/5 (42) | Jul 25, 2026 | 70/100 |
| 7 | [WPGet API – Connect to any external REST API](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wpgetapi/) | 10K+ | 5/5 (32) | Aug 13, 2026 | 90/100 |
| 8 | [WPGraphQL for ACF](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wpgraphql-acf/) | 10K+ | 5/5 (1) | Sep 8, 2026 | 75/100 |
| 9 | [WordPress REST API (Version 2)](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/rest-api/) | 10K+ | 4.2/5 (34) | Nov 28, 2017 | 43/100 |
| 10 | [WP REST API Controller](https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/wp-rest-api-controller/) | 8K+ | 4.3/5 (12) | Mar 22, 2023 | 38/100 |

## Frequently asked questions

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

### Is JSON API Auth safe to use in 2026?
Yes — JSON API Auth is a safe, well-maintained plugin to use in 2026. It runs on 600+ sites, is rated 4.7/5 and was last updated 1 week ago, and scores 81/100 on our health check.

### How many websites use JSON API Auth?
JSON API Auth is active on 600+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 82,032 times since it launched in December 2013. It was downloaded 1,090 times in the last 30 days.

### Does JSON API Auth work with WordPress 7.1?
Yes. The developer has tested JSON API Auth up to WordPress 7.1.2, the latest release. It requires WordPress 3.0.1 or newer.

### What PHP version does JSON API Auth need?
JSON API Auth requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.

### When was JSON API Auth last updated?
The latest version, 3.1.3, was released on September 25, 2026 (1 week ago).

### Who makes JSON API Auth?
JSON API Auth is developed and maintained by Ali Qureshi.

### What are the best alternatives to JSON API Auth?
The most popular alternatives to JSON API Auth are WP Consent API (200K+ installs), Disable REST API (80K+ installs) and Mailgun for WordPress (80K+ installs).


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Source: live WordPress.org data · HTML version: https://pageforge.pro/directory/plugins/json-api-auth/ · Generated 2026-10-04 08:31 UTC by PageForge