My Private Site – Make Your Whole Site Private, Force Login & Block Registration Spam
by David Gewirtz · Login & Users
Make WordPress private in one click, block registration spam, and safely clean up existing spam accounts.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 86/100
no flags
Active installs
10K+
≈19K estimated
Momentum
-37%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “recaptcha”, “force login” and “restricted access” for “private content”, “clean up” and “spam control”. “recaptcha” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “private content” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “force login” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “clean up” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “restricted access” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #15. “spam control” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
86 health vs 61 average across 2,206 Login & Users plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →1.6%
of downloads still active
At least 10K of 634.8K lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Login & Users plugin keeps 0.7%, across 1,477 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Login & Users plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 7 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Well tuned across the board
Updated 62 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.5★ over 82 reviews, smoothed to 4.35★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
Search visibility
How it's tracked →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.
41
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.2
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
26%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.1
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
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.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| private site your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| private | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| private content | #4 | #5 | up 1 |
| registration spam your tag | #8 | #11 | down 2 |
| private page | #3 | #5 | 0 |
| private post | #4 | #7 | up 1 |
| restricted access your tag | #15 | #18 | down 1 |
| restricted site access | #6 | #6 | 0 |
| force login your tag | #18 | #22 | 0 |
| make | #21 | #20 | up 1 |
| site registration | #8 | #11 | down 1 |
| usermeta | #14 | #8 | up 1 |
| clean up | #24 | #15 | 0 |
| spam control | #24 | #20 | 0 |
| spam clean | #17 | #18 | 0 |
| restricted | #17 | #16 | down 2 |
| block spam registration | #19 | #18 | 0 |
| registration page spam | #23 | #20 | 0 |
| block site | #24 | #20 | down 1 |
| recaptcha your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
228 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 19 listed. 209 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 1 of its tags isn't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “recaptcha”, “force login” and “restricted access” for “private content”, “clean up” and “spam control”. “recaptcha” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “private content” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “force login” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #18. “clean up” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “restricted access” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #15. “spam control” sits at #24 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- One page off on “restricted access”. #15 puts you just past the first ten results, where almost all the clicks stop. The gap to close is small.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,490 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 21.4K · peaks are release surges
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
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
7
releases in the last 12 months
2mo ago
latest release · v4.2.3 · 1 Sep 2026
51
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 32% run the current release. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “10K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 4 months ago and the previous band took 3.8 years to cross, so the real count is still just under 20K.
Install history since 7 Feb 2020
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ PaulaJ6mo ago
My client did not need a complex membership set-up, just a way to share information with among members. My Private Site for the win! I watched the video, activated the plugin, and everything worked great. But now it randomly wants some members to login again (sometimes) as they navigate to pages on the site. We cannot figure out why this is happening to some members some of the time. It has happened on both computers and phones. I had it happen once. It’s a mystery! I figured I would just open a support ticket, but I am unable to register on the ZATZlabs site. When I try, the form gives an error message saying my email is not in the system. (I know! That’s why I’m trying to register.) I have no way of getting help for this strange issue and no clue how to troubleshoot it on my own.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ boboberg8mo ago
I have used this plugin along with its companion My Private Site Public Pages for years on multiple websites. I found it very easy to use. Then on using it with a different theme I encountered a glitch and entered a support ticket. I got a timely response from David, and after a couple interactions was able to resolve the issue through the compatibility feature. The plugin is clearly well-designed to anticipate this issue, and David’s support was great!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ nkkakimoto10mo ago
I had trouble installing this plugin and after reaching out to David for help, he provided multiple days of labor and troubleshooting assistance until the plugin and my site were properly functioning. David was extremely responsive and offered numerous strategies and next steps to make the plugin work despite issues on my site’s end, even going so far as to create a new update for the plugin itself. When he discovered my site’s host needed to assist with certain aspects, David wrote out a thorough email and listed next steps for them to conduct. He was professional, helpful, and diligent in his communication and follow up. The plugin is working perfectly and my site is now private! Thank you so much for all your labor and time, David!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ tcink12mo ago
Used to be a great simple plugin. Now bunch of unneeded extra features and the basic site privacy simply doesn’t work, always returning “robots.txt is still returning 404. Ensure the server routes robots.txt to WordPress and try again”
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ merzakabderrahim1.6y ago
Works like a charm
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ prostjm2.0y ago
Responsive and efficient support while troubleshooting
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Gonzalo Suez3.2y ago
I have two intranets created with this plugin, it works perfectly. And I use the free version 😉
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mixer713.2y ago
Fantastic plugin – does everything I need.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 4.2 Added Spam Account Cleanup, a staged dry-run, CSV export, and batch deletion tool for safely removing spam subscriber accounts. Added optional reCAPTCHA protection for the WordPress registration form, sharing the existin 4.2
- — Version 4.1.1 Added the Protection-tab Registration Spam Guard controls for honeypot, gibberish username, excessive email dots, missing MX, and StopForumSpam checks. Added reCAPTCHA Login Guard settings, including Google site key and 4.1.1
- — Version 4.1.0 Added Registration Spam Guard and reCAPTCHA login protection to the free plugin. 4.1.0
- — Version 4.0.4 Fixed Site Privacy save actions being intercepted by the robots.txt retest control. Improved AI Crawler Defense retest notice when a physical robots.txt file is present. 4.0.4
- — Version 4.0.3 Added AI Crawler Defense subsystem Added built-in video tutorials for all sections Added Manage Settings subtab to Advanced to save, restore, and reset settings Substantially optimized plugin startup operations Added sub 4.0.3
- — Version 3.2.1 Safeguarded selective content processing with nonce and capability checks Hardened core admin handlers with current_user_can for membership, site privacy, landing, advanced, and more 3.2.1
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceAll 3 disclosed vulnerabilities are patched in the current version (4.2.3). Sites still on an older version should update.
- Patched Medium · 5.3 My Private Site – Make Your Whole Site Private, Force Login & Block Registration Spam < 4.2.3 - Unauthenticated Information Exposure ↗2026-09-05 CVE-2026-81348 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor Affects < 4.2.3 Patched in 4.2.3
Vulnerability records provided by Wordfence Intelligence. Copyright 2012-2026 Defiant Inc. License and terms.
CVE records: Copyright 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. CVE terms of use.
AI assistants
How it's measured →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.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 26 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Make WordPress private in one click, block registration spam, and safely clean up existing spam accounts."
- ! Has a FAQ Only 1 question in the FAQ; 3 or more gives an assistant something to match.
- ! FAQ asks real questions 0 of 1 FAQ entries are headings, not questions ("undefined").
- ✓ Names who it is for Names its audience or use cases ("ideal for", "use cases", "if you need").
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions WooCommerce, OpenAI, REST API.
- ✓ Headings and lists 11 headings and 3 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 8,459 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 3 of 5 tags appear in the text; "force login", "restricted access" do not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-07-14 20K+ → 10K+ down after 1379 days in tier
- 2022-10-04 30K+ → 20K+ down after 374 days in tier
- 2021-09-25 20K+ → 30K+ up after 1671 days in tier
- 2017-02-27 10K+ → 20K+ up after 541 days in tier
- 2015-09-05 9K+ → 10K+ up after 101 days in tier
- 2015-05-27 7K+ → 9K+ up
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).
- K KW Members Fortress — installs · 3.6★ · 2 shared tags
-
Advanced Google reCAPTCHA 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
ReCaptcha v2 for Contact Form 7 200K+ installs · 4.8★ · 1 shared tag A -
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 100K+ installs · 3.9★ · 1 shared tag A -
CAPTCHA 4WP – Antispam CAPTCHA solution for WordPress 100K+ installs · 3.2★ · 1 shared tag B -
LukasApps CAPTCHA tools for Contact Form 7 100K+ installs · 4.1★ · 1 shared tag B
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for My Private Site – Make Your Whole Site Private, Force Login & Block Registration Spam into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/jonradio-private-site" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="My Private Site – Make Your Whole Site Private, Force Login & Block Registration Spam — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> My Private Site – Make Your Whole Site Private, Force Login & Block Registration Spam: 10K+ active installs, 4.5★ (82 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-02. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/jonradio-private-site
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