SanctumGate
Simple granular access controls for WordPress sites. Keep content private for members while selectively making pages and categories public.
Consider an alternative
SanctumGate shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 9 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (<10 active installs)
- Very few reviews so far
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
How does it stack up?
Side-by-side on installs, updates, ratings & support
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where SanctumGate stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| access-control | >100 |
| pages | >100 |
| posts | >100 |
| privacy | >100 |
| security | >100 |
About SanctumGate
From the official readme · v1.0.3Description
SanctumGate gives small websites an easy way to keep the majority of pages and posts private for active members without the complexity of a full-on membership system. With simple, granular access controls, you decide exactly what the public sees — and what stays reserved for your logged-in community.
Key Features:
* Page-Level Control: Choose specific pages to make publicly accessible
* Category-Based Access: Make entire categories of posts public
* Category Archives: Public category archive pages for allowed categories
* User-Friendly Interface: Checkbox-based selection instead of manual ID entry
* Visual Feedback: See exactly what’s currently public at a glance
* Lightweight: Minimal performance impact, perfect for smaller sites
Perfect For:
* Small business websites
* Community sites
* Member-only content areas
* Private blogs
* Non-profit organization sites
Usage
Basic Setup
- Navigate to Appearance → SanctumGate in your WordPress admin
- You’ll see two sections: “Allowed Pages” and “Allowed Categories”
Making Pages Public
- Check the boxes next to any pages you want to be publicly accessible
- The home page is always public by default
- Save your changes
Making Posts Public by Category
- Check the boxes next to categories whose posts should be public
- All posts in checked categories will be accessible without login
- Category archive pages for allowed categories are also public
- Save your changes
What Stays Private
Everything else on your site will require users to log in to access, including:
* Unchecked pages
* Posts in unchecked categories
* All other post types and content
Support
For support, please visit the WordPress support forums or check the plugin documentation.
Credits
Developed by LaughterOnWater
Inspired by the need for simple, effective access control on small WordPress sites.
Installation
- Upload the
sanctumgatefolder to the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
- Go to Appearance → SanctumGate to configure access settings
- Check the boxes next to pages and categories you want to make public
- Save your settings
Frequently asked questions
Who is SanctumGate for?
SanctumGate is perfect for small to medium-sized websites that serve communities, organizations, or groups with mostly internal content, but need to showcase a few key pages publicly. Think intentional communities sharing event details and bylaws internally while letting potential new members see introductory pages; local resilience hubs coordinating volunteers with some public resource guides; sports teams managing private schedules and discussions while advertising upcoming games; or volunteer networks organizing private meetings with public opportunity listings. If your site is primarily…
How does SanctumGate work?
SanctumGate restricts access to your site’s content, making everything private by default except for the home page and login page. You then selectively make specific pages and categories public through the settings interface.
How do I configure access controls?
Go to Appearance ⇒ SanctumGate in your WordPress admin Check the boxes next to pages you want to make public Check the boxes next to categories whose posts should be public Save your settings
What content is public by default?
Home page (always accessible) Login page (always accessible) Any pages you check in the settings All posts in categories you check Category archive pages for allowed categories
How do I make a specific page public?
In the SanctumGate settings page, go to the “Pages” tab and check the box next to the page title. Save your changes. The page will then be accessible without login.
How do I make posts in a category public?
In the SanctumGate settings page, go to the “Categories” tab and check the box next to the category name. All posts in that category will become publicly accessible.
What happens when I uncheck a page or category?
Unchecked content becomes private and requires login to access. The change takes effect immediately after saving.
Can I make individual posts public without making the whole category public?
Not currently. SanctumGate works at the page and category level for simplicity. For more granular post control, consider a dedicated membership plugin.
What about custom post types?
Currently, SanctumGate only handles standard WordPress pages and posts. Custom post types are not supported in this version.
Is the home page always public?
Yes, the home page (and front page) are always accessible to maintain basic site functionality.
What happens to search results and archives?
Search results and other archives will respect the access rules. Only public content will be visible in searches and feeds.
Does SanctumGate affect media files and images?
Media files (images, documents) embedded in public content will be accessible. However, direct links to media files in private content may still be accessible if someone has the URL. For complete media protection, consider additional security plugins.
How does this differ from other membership plugins?
SanctumGate is designed for simplicity. It doesn’t handle payments, user registration, or complex permission levels. It’s perfect for sites that just need basic “public vs. private” content separation.
Can I use SanctumGate with other plugins?
Yes, SanctumGate works well with most WordPress plugins. However, plugins that modify content access (like membership systems) may conflict. Test thoroughly in a staging environment.
Troubleshooting: Users can’t access content they should be able to see
Check that the page/post is in an allowed category or is an allowed page Verify your settings are saved Clear any caching plugins Check for conflicts with other security plugins
Troubleshooting: Content is showing as private when it should be public
Confirm the page/category is checked in settings Save settings again to ensure they’re applied Check for plugin conflicts Verify user is not logged in (public access)
Does SanctumGate work with multisite?
SanctumGate is designed for single sites. Multisite installations may require individual plugin activation per site.
Can I restrict access based on user roles?
Not currently. SanctumGate provides simple public/private separation. For role-based access, consider membership plugins.
What about RSS feeds and XML sitemaps?
RSS feeds and sitemaps will only include public content. Private content is excluded from feeds and sitemaps.
Is there a limit to how many pages or categories I can make public?
No, you can make as many pages and categories public as needed. However, for performance, consider keeping most content private if possible.
Changelog
Initial release - no upgrade needed.
1.0.1
- revised release
- formal name change to SanctumGate
1.0.0
- Initial release
- Page and category-based access control
- User-friendly checkbox interface
- WordPress 6.9 compatibility
Screenshots
For developers
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Best SanctumGate alternatives
All access-control plugins →
FAQ
SanctumGate: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 4, 2026
Is SanctumGate free?
Yes. SanctumGate is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is SanctumGate safe to use in 2026?
SanctumGate shows warning signs in 2026 — compare the alternatives below before installing. Was last updated 9 months ago, and scores 36/100 on our health check.
How many websites use SanctumGate?
SanctumGate is active on <10 WordPress websites and has been downloaded 331 times since it launched in December 2025. It was downloaded 45 times in the last 30 days.
Does SanctumGate work with WordPress 7.1?
SanctumGate 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 SanctumGate need?
SanctumGate requires PHP 7.4 or higher. Most hosts run PHP 8.x today, so it works on any modern WordPress hosting.
When was SanctumGate last updated?
The latest version, 1.0.3, was released on December 31, 2025 (9 months ago).
Who makes SanctumGate?
SanctumGate is developed and maintained by LaughterOnWater.
What are the best alternatives to SanctumGate?
The most popular alternatives to SanctumGate are PublishPress Capabilities:… (100K+ installs), Restrict User Access (10K+ installs) and PublishPress Permissions: A… (10K+ installs).
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