Two Factor
by WordPress.org · Security
Also makes 22 other plugins · 11.2M+ installs across the portfolio →
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), email, and backup verification codes.
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 88/100
no flags
Active installs
100K+
≈180K estimated
Momentum
+137%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “security”, “authentication” and “2fa” for “throttle”, “time based” and “application passwords”. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “throttle” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “authentication” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “time based” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “2fa” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #20. “application passwords” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
88 health vs 66 average across 1,776 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →5.0%
of downloads still active
At least 100K of 2M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,059 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Security plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
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
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 33 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.7★ over 209 reviews, smoothed to 4.58★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
3 of 6 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →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.
46
Momentum
Holding steady
+0.4
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
35%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+0.3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| two factor | #1 | #1 | up 1 |
| two factor authentication | #2 | #2 | up 1 |
| email two factor authentication | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| totp your tag | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| mfa your tag | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| role based mfa | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| 2 factor | #2 | #2 | down 1 |
| 2 factor authentication | #2 | #2 | up 1 |
| two factor auth | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| throttle | #4 | #3 | 0 |
| time based | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| two factor authentication or 2fa | #3 | #3 | 0 |
| 2fa your tag | #20 | #15 | up 2 |
| authentication your tag | #23 | #13 | up 1 |
| one time | #21 | #14 | down 1 |
| verification | #22 | #9 | 0 |
| application passwords | #20 | #15 | down 1 |
| id verification | #15 | #5 | 0 |
| 2fa authentication | #16 | #11 | up 6 |
| one time codes | #21 | #16 | — |
| security your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
165 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 145 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 “security”, “authentication” and “2fa” for “throttle”, “time based” and “application passwords”. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “throttle” sits at #4 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “authentication” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #23. “time based” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “2fa” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #20. “application passwords” sits at #20 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
- Under-ranked on “authentication”. wp.org puts you #23; on merit you place #13. The plugins above you are winning on install count, not on rating or upkeep.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 169.3K · 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.
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. 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 “100K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 10 months ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 82% of the way through.
Install history since 1 Nov 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ jhonhorac5mo ago
It’s an excellent plugin; I use it on all my sites.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ vee5mo ago
The basic options expected:1. I must be able to use any authentication app.2. An option to use email as 2nd auth.But this plugin also have backup code.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ kloproterra5mo ago
This plugin requires individual users to manage 2FA. Individual users can remove 2FA from their profile at any time leaving that account vulnerable. An admin would need to check regularly that this hasn’t been removed. There is discussion about a custom function to force a user back to the profile page. I tested this. A user can still leave the account with 2FA off, albeit they cannot navigation anywhere but the profile page. However, in this state a bad actor can login with a password only to the unprotected account, then configure 2FA to their own device, this then removes the redirect and therefore undermines the entire process. This is a significant flaw. However, the plugin can protect a single admin account but any sort of user hierarchy is not protected. This topic was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by kloproterra. This topic was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by kloproterra.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ bowerwebsolutions6mo ago
Not only did it work well for my use case with a customer who wanted to offer optional 2fa, but when i asked about customizing the code validation page i had a response in minutes. Very impressive. Worked well with a theme my login branded site.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ aelbo6mo ago
Fonctionne parfaitement, simple et fiable
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mjezegou356mo ago
I am in version 6.6.2 of WordPress and in multisite network version. Is it possible to activate your plugin despite the constraint tested up to 6.9.1, please? I can’t activate it at the network level? This topic was modified 2 months, 4 weeks ago by mjezegou35.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Dennis Dallau7mo ago
Easy install, light speed and exactly does what it needs to do. My opinion: No plugin is safer or cleaner than one created by the team behind WordPress.org.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Guy Sharpe7mo ago
I’ve been using the Two Factor plugin on several WordPress sites and it has been a great addition to my security stack. The setup process is very straightforward. Within a few minutes, I was able to enable two-factor authentication and add an extra layer of protection to the login process. The plugin integrates smoothly with the default WordPress login, so there’s no complicated configuration or learning curve. What I really like: Supports multiple 2FA methods (authenticator apps, email, backup codes) Lightweight and doesn’t slow down the site Clean and simple interface Works perfectly without conflicts with other plugins/themes For clients and non-technical users, it’s especially helpful because the instructions are clear and easy to follow. In today’s environment where brute-force attacks are common, this plugin feels like a must-have for any WordPress website. Highly recommended for anyone who wants quick, reliable login security without complexity.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- 2026-09-25 Version 0.17.0 Security Fixes: Ensure that regular passwords can’t bypass the two-factor requirement for REST API and XML-RPC requests by @faisalahammad in #989 . Thanks mqrble for responsibly reporting the issue. Security Fixes: Add d 0.17.0
- 2026-03-27 Version 0.16.0 Breaking Changes: Remove legacy FIDO U2F provider support by #439 . New Features: Add a dedicated settings page for plugin configuration in wp-admin by #764 . New Features: Add a support links filter so consumers can cus 0.16.0
- 2026-02-13 Version 0.15.0 Breaking Changes: Trigger two-factor flow only when expected by @kasparsd in #660 and #793 . New Features: Include user IP address and contextual warning in two-factor code emails by @todeveni in #728 New Features: Optim 0.15.0
- 2025-12-11 Version 0.14.2 New Features: Add filter for rest_api_can_edit_user_and_update_two_factor_options by @gutobenn in #689 Development Updates: Remove Coveralls tooling and add inline coverage report by @kasparsd in #717 Development Updates 0.14.2
- 2025-09-05 Version 0.14.1 Don’t URI encode the TOTP url for display. by @dd32 in #711 Removed the duplicate Security.md by @slvignesh05 in #712 Fixed linting issues by @sudar in #707 Update development dependencies and fix failing QR unit test by 0.14.1
- 2025-07-03 Version 0.14.0 Features: Enable Application Passwords for REST API and XML-RPC authentication (by default) by @joostdekeijzer in #697 and #698 . Previously this required two_factor_user_api_login_enable filter to be set to true which i 0.14.0
Security history
via Wordfence IntelligenceThe 1 disclosed vulnerability is patched in the current version (0.17.0). Sites still on an older version should update.
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.
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 8.1.12 · WP 7.0.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 55 languages, 12 at 90% or more
Plus 31 more locales with partial translations.
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
7 of 8 pass · checked 25 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) using time-based one-time passwords (TOTP), email, and backup verifi..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 9 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 9 of 9 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions REST API, WP-CLI.
- ✓ Headings and lists 17 headings and 14 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 8,713 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "MFA" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2026-01-04 90K+ → 100K+ up after 195 days in tier
- 2025-06-23 80K+ → 90K+ up after 345 days in tier
- 2024-07-13 70K+ → 80K+ up after 258 days in tier
- 2023-10-29 60K+ → 70K+ up after 1 days in tier
- 2023-10-28 70K+ → 60K+ down after 1 days in tier
- 2023-10-27 60K+ → 70K+ up after 136 days in tier
- 2023-06-13 50K+ → 60K+ up after 227 days in tier
- 2022-10-29 40K+ → 50K+ up after 1 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).
-
miniOrange 2FA – Two Factor Authentication for WordPress (OTP, SMS, Email, Google Authenticator) 10K+ installs · 4.5★ · 4 shared tags A -
Trusona for WordPress 400+ installs · 4.6★ · 3 shared tags A -
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ installs · 4.9★ · 2 shared tags A -
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A - L Limit Login Attempts 300K+ installs · 4.6★ · 2 shared tags C
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Two Factor into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/two-factor" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Two Factor — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Two Factor: 100K+ active installs, 4.7★ (209 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/two-factor
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