Disable REST API

Reviewers keep calling it a set-and-forget install that blocks the REST API while letting chosen endpoints through, though a couple flag stale compatibility info and one site broke outright after activation.

How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.

Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.

Not enough tracked days yet to call a direction. Momentum needs at least three keywords measured a week or more apart.

wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.

0 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days. 5 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.

Directory rank vs rivals

wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you

How often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.

Share of active installs on each version of this plugin · 82% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.

Crossed into this band 4 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 71% of the way through.

1. ★★★★★ graphicvision1

   2.2y ago

   What else can I say, this plugin does exactly what its supposed to do. It’s easy to understand and works perfectly. So well done!

   Read on wp.org ↗
2. ★★★★★ Maarten B

   2.8y ago

   The plugin does what it says on the tin, without being pretentious. Absolutely fantastic!

   Read on wp.org ↗
3. ★★★★★ ucsendre

   3.1y ago

   I always start my WordPress installations with this plugin (among a few other ones). A must have on all sites. Thank you.

   Read on wp.org ↗
4. ★★★★★ mw815371

   3.6y ago

   The plugin still works for me on WordPress 6.2. It’s great to have the option to allow API access where I need it and block everything else.

   Read on wp.org ↗
5. ★★★★★ Ronny Adsetts

   3.8y ago

   Allows locking the WP API behind auth and selectively allowing it where needed. Despite the lack of plugin updates, the author does have an active github repo so don’t let that put you off.

   Read on wp.org ↗
6. ★★★★★ Ben Sibley

   3.8y ago

   Blocking the REST API entirely breaks plugins that require this functionality, so being able to selectively enable routes is perfect. I recommend this plugin to everyone who uses Independent Analytics to secure their site while still enabling analytics to be recorded.

   Read on wp.org ↗
7. ★★★★★ Hendrik57

   3.8y ago

   This is a very good plugin with the options, and it could still work now, but we can not verify compliance. Please update. And do not forget to update the .txt file that shows tested WordPress. This topic was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Hendrik57. Reason: New experiences This topic was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by Hendrik57.

   Read on wp.org ↗
8. ★★★★★ richardjwallace

   3.8y ago

   I installed this but following install I couldn’t view any webpages. The main page give exception Notice: Trying to get property ‘name’ of non-object in /home/customer/www/XXXXXX/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/endpoints/class-wp-rest-posts-controller.php on line 60 I prompted renamed plugin folder using FTP in the folder wp-content\plugins\disable-json-api.disable so I could login then deleted it Good idea but didn’t work for my site This topic was modified 3 years, 6 months ago by richardjwallace.

   Read on wp.org ↗

Recent releases and news for this plugin

1. — Version 1.8 Tested up to WP v6.3 Added dra_error_message filter so devs can customize the access error message Fixed bug that caused fatal errors if activating plugin on installations running the LearnPress plugin Changed minimum re 1.8
2. — Version 1.7 Tested up to WP v5.8 Replace use of filemtime() with plugin version number for static file enqueues. Props @tangrufus for bringing this up! Fixed logic bug for role-based default_allow rules. Props @msp1974 for the repor 1.7
3. — Version 1.6 Tested up to WP v5.6 Added support for managing endpoint access on a per-user-role basis Soooooooo many small changes behind the scenes to support the above 1.6
4. — Version 1.5.1 Tested up to WP v5.5 1.5.1
5. — Version 1.5 Tested up to WP v5.3 Added enforcement for WordPress and PHP minimum version requirements Fixed minor bug to prevent unintended empty routes Minor text updates and adding textdomain to translation functions that didn’t h 1.5
6. — Version 1.4.3 Added load_plugin_textdomain() for i18n 1.4.3

Automated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 6.3.1

Translated into 19 languages, 17 at 90% or more

Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.

Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.

Growth timeline

Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow

1. 2026-07-18 90K+ → 80K+ down after 2 days in tier
2. 2026-07-16 80K+ → 90K+ up after 4 days in tier
3. 2026-07-12 90K+ → 80K+ down after 1356 days in tier
4. 2022-10-25 80K+ → 90K+ up after 1 days in tier
5. 2022-10-24 90K+ → 80K+ down after 4 days in tier
6. 2022-10-20 80K+ → 90K+ up after 327 days in tier
7. 2021-11-27 70K+ → 80K+ up after 269 days in tier
8. 2021-03-03 60K+ → 70K+ up after 417 days in tier

Competes with

The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).

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Disable REST API: 80K+ active installs, 4.8★ (38 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/disable-json-api