These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Access-control category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated access-control apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked access-control apps. To browse every access-control app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Access-control category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Access-control by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is , so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
rating × ln(reviewCount + 1)AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Easy Basic Authentication – Add basic auth to site or admin area
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (3 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Easy Basic Authentication – Add basic auth to site or admin area holds a 5.0-star average across 3 reviews in the access-control category.
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (1 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Simple Password Protect holds a 5.0-star average across 1 reviews in the access-control category.
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a mixed-rating listing. Tracks at no-rating across 0 reviews — early-stage review volume. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want an emerging access-control option — User Access Blocker ranks #3 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
WP REST API Key Authentication
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (0 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (2 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
RoleMaster Suite – User Role Editor for E-Commerce, Membership & Admin Panel
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a mixed-rating listing. Tracks at no-rating across 3 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (5 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a category-leading listing. An early-stage review volume (1 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 1 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory access-control category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (0 reviews). Source: WordPress Plugin Directory's own published category position.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 10 access-control apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easy Basic Authentication – Add basic auth to site or admin area | 5.0★ | 3 | — |
| 2 | Simple Password Protect | 5.0★ | 1 | — |
| 3 | User Access Blocker | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
| 4 | WP REST API Key Authentication | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
| 5 | Attributes User Access | 5.0★ | 2 | — |
| 6 | RoleMaster Suite – User Role Editor for E-Commerce, Membership & Admin Panel | 3.7★ | 3 | — |
| 7 | DiaryPress | 2.0★ | 5 | — |
| 8 | PasswordSentry | 5.0★ | 1 | — |
| 9 | Login Terms Acceptance | 5.0★ | 1 | — |
| 10 | PathGuard Redirects | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
Want to compare any two apps in detail (features, ratings trend, pricing plans side-by-side)? Open the head-to-head page from the "Compare to #N" link on each card above. Custom multi-app comparisons, historical rank trajectory, and CSV export are available on a paid plan.
Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.
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