WP REST API Key Authentication
by Kamal Hosen · Security
A simple plugin to add API key-based authentication to the WordPress REST API. Manage multiple API keys and secure your REST API endpoints.
56 health vs 68 average across 391 Security plugins
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.
Well optimized
Biggest win: Update recency
To rank higher: Last updated 547 days ago — ship an update; wp.org decays a listing's search weight after ~180 days.
Get the full rank-higher report →Daily downloads
Since 2025-01-16 · 547 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peaks are release surges
35
now · peak 132
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
Downloads per 1k installs · 30d
Engagement proxy · release spikes are signal, a long slide is an aging base
Estimated active installs
wp.org reports only “10+”. The real number sits in this band.
Refined from the date this plugin crossed into its current band.
At the current install trend, crossing 20+ in roughly 743 days.
Install history · since 2025-01-16 · 542 observations
Details
Growth timeline
Install-band crossings we have observed, and how long each band took to outgrow
- 2026-06-03 20+ → 10+ down after 5 days in band
- 2026-05-29 10+ → 20+ up after 1 days in band
- 2026-05-28 20+ → 10+ down after 75 days in band
- 2026-03-14 10+ → 20+ up after 237 days in band
- 2025-07-20 — → 10+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach — closest match first
-
JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs 20K+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
SMNTCS Disable REST API User Endpoints 7K+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags C -
Disabler 900+ installs · 4.3★ · 2 shared tags A -
Easy Basic Authentication – Add basic auth to site or admin area 700+ installs · 4.1★ · 2 shared tags A -
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ installs · 4.7★ · 1 shared tag A -
Hostinger Tools 3M+ installs · 3.6★ · 1 shared tag B
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<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/rest-api-key-authentication" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="WP REST API Key Authentication — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> WP REST API Key Authentication: 10+ active installs, 0.0★ (0 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-07-17. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/rest-api-key-authentication