Simple Restrict
Restrict pages based on permissions assigned to pages and granted in user profiles.
Solid choice
Simple Restrict is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 3 months ago, and scores 73/100 on our health check.
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 Simple Restrict stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| authorization | #9 |
| hide | >100 |
| permission | #33 |
| restrict | #4 |
| restrict pages | #1 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9 from 15 reviews
About Simple Restrict
From the official readme · v1.2.9Description
This plugin allows you to easily mark certain pages with “Permissions” and only users with those permissions will be allowed to see the contents of the page.
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Page Permissions: This plugin adds a new Permissions taxonomy to your pages. Administrators can create/assign new permissions from the Edit Page screen (you can also use the Quick Edit link). You can add/edit/delete permissions from the Permissions sub-menu under the Pages menu. Pages with no assigned permissions can be seen by everyone.
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User Permissions: Administrators can add/remove permissions from a user using the checkboxes on the Edit User screen. The All Users page has a column that shows the permissions assigned to each user.
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Restriction Message: If a page has permissions assigned, the content will only be visible to users that have one of those same permissions assigned. Otherwise, the content will be replaced by a generic message or a custom message which can be defined in the plugin settings using the standard WordPress editor (including the ability to add media and formatting).
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Redirect to login: Instead of a restriction message, you can choose to have users get redirected to the login page.
Installation
- Upload the contents of
simple-restrict.zipto the/wp-content/plugins/directory - Activate the plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress
Frequently asked questions
How do I restrict access to a page?
Go to the Edit Page screen for the page you want to restrict, and find the new “Permissions” section. Create and assign a new permission (e.g. “Gold subscriber”) and update your page. Now this page content will only be viewable by users who have this same permission assigned to them.
How do I allow a user to see a restricted page?
If a page is restricted, it’s content will only be viewable by users who have this same permission assigned to them. To assign a permission to a user, go to the Edit User page and you will see all possible permissions listed. Put a checkmark beside the Permissions you want to assign to this user. Save the changes, and the user will be allowed to see the page.
If a page has multiple permissions assigned, does a user need to have all those permissions assigned to her/him in order to see the page?
A user only needs to have one of the page permissions assigned to her/him in order to see that page. For example, if a page is assigned the permission “Gold subscriber” and another permission “Silver subscriber”, a user who is assigned the permission “Silver subscriber” will see the page.
What about pages with no permissions assigned to them?
They are visible to everyone.
Will this plugin restrict posts?
No. This plugin is only for pages.
Will this plugin restrict pages that use custom page templates?
It depends. If your page template uses the_content() to retrieve the main content, and does not loop through any posts, then yes this plugin will restrict the page. Otherwise, see the answer below.
Will this plugin restrict pages that show posts (archive pages)?
No. This plugin hides the main content of the page (the_content()). Any page template that loops through posts, be they default posts or custom post types, will continue to show those posts. A more advanced content restriction plugin (usually paid) would be required for your needs.
What WordPress user capabilities are required for the different functionalities of this plugin?
The manage_options capability is required to edit plugin settings. The edit_users capability is required to assign permission to users. Any user who has the rights to edit a page also has the rights to assign permissions to the page and create new permissions.
How can I contribute to the code?
The plugin is on GitHub, feel free to submit a pull request.
What languages does this plugin support, and how can I help translate it?
This plugin was released in English and French, and anyone can add additional translations from here.
Where do I report security bugs found in this plugin?
Please report security bugs found in the source code of the Simple Restrict plugin through the Patchstack Vulnerability Disclosure Program. The Patchstack team will assist you with verification, CVE assignment, and notify the developers of this plugin.”
Changelog
First installation
1.2.9
Fixed: Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863) in the REST API restriction check, which allowed a Contributor-level user to bypass page permissions enforced on the frontend ( Thanks to Shikhali Jamalzade )
1.0.0
- Initial release
1.0.1
- Updates to translations
1.0.2
- Switch to translate.wordpress.org.
- Testing on WordPress 4.5.
1.0.3
- Updates to readme and descriptions.
1.0.4
- Update to show Tested up to WordPress 4.9.4
Screenshots
For developers
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Best Simple Restrict alternatives
All authorization plugins →
FAQ
Simple Restrict: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Oct 9, 2026
Is Simple Restrict free?
Yes. Simple Restrict is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Simple Restrict safe to use in 2026?
Simple Restrict is a solid plugin choice in 2026, with a few things worth checking first. It runs on 1K+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 3 months ago, and scores 73/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Simple Restrict?
Simple Restrict is active on 1K+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 35,564 times since it launched in April 2016. It was downloaded 426 times in the last 30 days.
Does Simple Restrict work with WordPress 7.1?
Simple Restrict is officially tested up to WordPress 7.0.7, while the latest release is 7.1.3. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Simple Restrict last updated?
The latest version, 1.2.9, was released on July 15, 2026 (3 months ago).
Who makes Simple Restrict?
Simple Restrict is developed and maintained by WP Chill.
What are the best alternatives to Simple Restrict?
The most popular alternatives to Simple Restrict are Keyring (1K+ installs), gsislogin (30+ installs) and Zodan Authorized Downloads (10+ installs).
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