Best password protect plugin for WordPress

If you run a WordPress site, there’s a good chance not everything on it is meant for public view. Maybe you’ve got a private page you only want to share with a client, a members-only resource, or a post you’re still working on and don’t want indexed just yet. WordPress does offer a basic password option, but in practice it’s pretty limited and rarely does the job properly.

When you’re trying to protect content, the last thing you want is something awkward to use or unreliable. You need a plugin that’s easy to set up, works as expected, and actually keeps your content private. I’ve spent a lot of time testing different password protection plugins over the years, and the difference between a good one and a frustrating one is huge.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the best password protection plugins for WordPress – from simple tools for locking a single page to more advanced options that let you protect parts of your site, create restricted areas, or work nicely with page builders.

• WordPress’s built-in password protection works for quick drafts, but it’s very limited once you need to protect real client or member content.
• The right plugin depends on what you’re trying to lock down, a single page, part of a post, or your entire site all need different tools.
• Basic password plugins are fine for low-risk use, but they don’t offer much protection beyond hiding content.
• If you want to protect your content and your site as a whole, a security plugin like All-in-One Security (AIOS) helps secure your login page, block attacks, and keep your site properly locked down.

First, let’s talk about the built-in option. On any post or page, you can go to the “Visibility” setting and change it from “Public” to “Password Protected.”

It works, but it has some big limitations:

• You set one password for that page. That’s it. You can’t have multiple passwords for different user groups.
• You can only protect the entire post or page. You can’t show a public teaser and then lock the rest of the content.
• Want to lock your whole site while it’s under construction? You’d have to manually password-protect every single page.
• The password form is functional, but it’s not pretty and can be hard to style to match your brand.

If you just need to quickly hide one page, it’s fine. But for any professional use, you’re going to need something more robust.

To figure out which plugins were actually worth recommending, I tested each one with real use cases in mind, the same kinds of situations bloggers, freelancers, and small business owners run into every day. Rather than focusing on features for the sake of it, I paid attention to how well each plugin worked in practice.

Here’s what I looked for:

1. Ease of use: How quickly can a non-techy user install the plugin and protect their content? Is the interface intuitive?
2. Feature set: What can it do? Does it just protect posts? Or can it handle partial content, categories, WooCommerce products, or the entire site?
3. Security level: How secure is it? Does it offer extra features like reCAPTCHA, role-based access, or protection against brute-force guessing?
4. Performance impact: Does the plugin slow your site down? A secure site is great, but not if it takes ten seconds to load. We look for lightweight code.
5. Support & updates: Is the plugin actively maintained by its developers? If you get stuck, is there good documentation or support to help you?

I’ve given each plugin a score for these metrics so you can quickly compare and find the one that’s the perfect fit for your specific needs.

Before you install any new plugin, especially one that controls access to your content, it’s always worth taking a full backup of your site. Things can go wrong, and a backup is your one-click undo button. I personally use and recommend UpdraftPlus for this. It’s reliable, easy to set up, and has saved me more than once.

Alright, let’s get into the list. I’ve included a mix of free, freemium, and premium plugins to cover every budget and use case.

Freemium | Ease of Use: 9/10 | Feature Set: 10/10 | Security Level: 9/10 | Performance: 9/10 | Support: 10/10 | Overall: 9.4/10

Ideal use case: This is for the serious user who needs maximum flexibility. It’s perfect for membership-style sites, online course creators, and businesses with premium content.

The PPWP plugin is, for many, the go-to solution. The free version is incredibly generous and covers what most people need, and the Pro version is a powerhouse. It’s built to handle everything from single posts to complex, granular protection.

Key features

• Sitewide Protection: Lock your entire WordPress site with a single password (great for development).
• Partial Content Protection: Use a simple shortcode to lock just a part of your post or page.
• Multiple Passwords: (Pro) Create multiple passwords for the same piece of content.
• User Role Protection: (Pro) Automatically unlock content for specific logged-in user roles.

Pros

• The free version is powerful enough for many users
• Extremely flexible and feature-rich Pro version
• Works with page builders like Elementor and Divi

Cons

• With so many features, the settings can be a little overwhelming for absolute beginners

Final verdict

If you need a reliable, all-around Password protect plugin for wordpress that can grow with you, this is it. Start with the free version; you’ll be impressed.

[Freemium] | Ease of Use: 9.5/10 | Feature Set: 8.5/10 | Security Level: 8/10 | Performance: 9.5/10 | Support: 9/10 | Overall: 8.9/10

Ideal use case: This is perfect for bloggers and content creators who primarily use the Gutenberg block editor and want a simple, elegant way to protect parts of their content.

Passster is all about simplicity and a great user experience. It makes protecting content feel effortless and integrates beautifully with the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg). It’s lightweight and won’t slow you down.

Key features

• Block Editor Integration: Comes with its own “Protected Content” block, which is super easy to use.
• Shortcode Protection: Also works with shortcodes for use in page builders or the classic editor.
• Area Protection: (Pro) Create a single “protected area” and reuse it on multiple pages.
• CAPTCHA & reCAPTCHA: (Pro) Adds an extra layer of security to your password forms.

Pros

• Incredibly easy to use, especially with the block editor
• Very lightweight and fast
• Clean and modern interface

Cons

• The free version is a bit more limited than PPWP’s
• Lacks some advanced features like sitewide protection in the free version

Final verdict

If your main goal is partial content protection and ease of use is your number one priority, Passster is a fantastic choice.

Premium | Ease of Use: 10/10 | Feature Set: 8/10 | Security Level: 8/10 | Performance: 10/10 | Support: 9/10 | Overall: 9.0/10

Ideal use case: This is the absolute best solution for anyone building a new site or doing a redesign. It lets you password-protect your entire site in “development mode” with a beautiful, branded page.

This one is a bit different. SeedProd isn’t just a password protection plugin; it’s the best landing page and “Coming Soon” page builder on the market. Its password protection feature is a key part of its “Coming Soon” and “Maintenance Mode” functionality.

Key features

• Drag-and-Drop Page Builder: Create a beautiful, custom password-protected “Coming Soon” page.
• Access Controls: Easily set up a password-protected page for your entire site while it’s under construction.
• Bypass Link: (Pro) Create a special link you can send to clients to let them bypass the password page without having to enter a password.
• Email Marketing Integration: Collect emails from visitors on your “Coming Soon” page.

Pros

• By far the easiest and most professional-looking way to password-protect a site under construction
• Zero performance impact on your live site (since it’s not live)
• Tons of other features (landing pages, sales pages, etc.)

Cons

• It’s a premium-only plugin
• It’s overkill if you just want to protect a single blog post

Final verdict

For site developers, designers, and anyone launching a new project, SeedProd is a must-have. It handles this specific use case better than anyone else.

Free | Ease of Use: 10/10 | Feature Set: 7/10 | Security Level: 7/10 | Performance: 10/10 | Support: 8/10 | Overall: 8.4/10

Ideal use case: This is for the developer showing a site to a client, a photographer with a private client gallery, or anyone who needs to quickly and easily make their entire site private.

Don’t confuse this with the “PPWP” plugin from earlier. This plugin, simply named Password Protected, does one thing and does it perfectly: it password-protects your entire WordPress site.

Key features

• One-Click Sitewide Protection: Just enable the plugin, set one password, and your whole site is locked.
• Allow Admin Access: Has a simple checkbox to let logged-in admins see the site without the password.
• IP Whitelisting: (Pro) Allow specific IP addresses to bypass the password.
• Theme Integration: Works with any theme and is super lightweight.

Pros

• The absolute simplest way to lock your entire site
• Extremely lightweight and fast
  Completely free for its main purpose

Cons

• It only does sitewide protection. It cannot protect single posts or partial content.

Final verdict

If your-need is “lock my whole site right now,” this is your plugin. It takes about 30 seconds to set up.

Premium | Ease of Use: 7/10 | Feature Set: 10/10 | Security Level: 10/10 | Performance: 8/10 | Support: 10/10 | Overall: 9.0/10

Ideal use case: This is for anyone building a serious online business. Think online courses, private coaching communities, or paid newsletters. You’re not just locking content; you’re selling it.

MemberPress is the heavyweight champion of content protection, but it’s a full-blown membership plugin. You’re not just protecting content with a password; you’re protecting it based on membership levels.

Key features

• Advanced Content Dripping: Release protected content to members on a schedule.
• Subscription Management: Charge users for access (one-time or recurring).
• User Role & Capability Rules: Incredibly granular rules for who can see what.
• WooCommerce Integration: Sell access to your protected content as a product.

Pros

• The most powerful and flexible content protection available
• A complete business model in a plugin
• Excellent support and documentation

Cons

• It’s a big, premium plugin and is total overkill for simple password protection
• Has a steeper learning curve than any other plugin on this list

Final verdict

Don’t get this if you just want to hide a page. Get this if you want to build a protected, premium content empire.

Free | Ease of Use: 8/10 | Feature Set: 8/10 | Security Level: 7/10 | Performance: 9/10 | Support: 7/10 | Overall: 7.8/10

Ideal use case: This is great for simple membership-style sites where you don’t need payment but want to have “members-only” content for anyone who is logged in.

Content Control is a simple, lightweight plugin that gives you more granular control over page and post visibility than WordPress does by default.

Key features

• User Role Restriction: Restrict content to specific user roles.
• Logged-in/Logged-out Status: Easily show content to only logged-in or only logged-out users.
• Redirects: Set a custom URL to redirect unauthorized users to (like your homepage or a login page).

Pros

• Simple and lightweight
• The redirect feature is very useful
• It’s free

Cons

• It’s based on user roles, not passwords
• Not as feature-rich as premium options

Final verdict

A solid, free plugin for simple role-based content restriction. If you just want to hide a page from logged-out users, this is a great pick.

Free | Ease of Use: 8/10 | Feature Set: 10/10 | Security Level: 10/10 | Performance: 9/10 | Support: 9/10 | Overall: 9.2/10

Ideal use case: This is for the business owner or professional who understands that protecting a page is only one part of site security. You’re not just hiding content; you’re actively defending your entire website.

Now we’re talking about the bigger picture. While many password protection plugins only secure specific pages or posts, All-in-One Security (AIOS) goes a step further. It’s a comprehensive security plugin that includes password protection features as part of a larger suite.

Key features

• Password Protection: Includes a feature to password-protect your entire site with a single password.
• Login Lockdown: Protects your login page (wp-admin) from brute-force attacks.
• Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an incredibly strong layer of security to your user accounts.
• Firewall: Blocks malicious traffic before it even reaches your site.

Pros

• It’s a complete, all-in-one security solution, not just a content-hiding tool
• The free version is extremely powerful
• Gives you multiple layers of site protection in one place

Cons

• The sheer number of options can be intimidating for a total beginner
• It’s not designed for granular, partial content protection like Passster or PPWP

Final verdict

If you’re looking for a password protect plugin for wordpress, you should seriously consider if what you really need is a full security plugin. AIOS gives you robust protection for your entire site, including your login page, which is often the weakest link.

Free | Ease of Use: 9/10 | Feature Set: 7/10 | Security Level: 6/10 | Performance: 10/10 | Support: 7/10 | Overall: 7.6/10

Ideal use case: This is perfect for “bonus” content you want to share with your email list. You can send them the direct link, but new visitors to your site will never stumble upon it.

Hide Posts takes a different approach. It doesn’t password-protect content; it just hides it from public-facing areas of your site, like the homepage, category archives, and search results. The post is still accessible if you have the direct link.

Key features

• Hide from Everywhere: A simple checkbox on the post-edit screen to hide it from the front page, category pages, tags, search, etc.
• Still Accessible via Link: Anyone with the direct URL can still see the post.
• Extremely Simple: No settings page. Just one checkbox.

Pros

• Incredibly simple
• Zero performance impact
• Perfect for “unlisted” posts

Cons

• It is not secure. Anyone with the link can see it, and it could still be indexed by Google if linked to.
• No password protection at all

Final verdict

A great tool for a specific marketing use case, but do not use this for truly sensitive or private content.

Choosing the right password protection plugin really just depends on what you’re trying to hide and how much control you need.

My advice? Don’t get overwhelmed by the options. Start by clearly defining your one main goal right now.

• Are you just hiding a single client gallery or a page under construction? A free, focused plugin like Password Protected is probably all you need.
• Do you want to show a teaser and then lock the rest of your post? Passster or Password Protect WordPress (PPWP) are your best friends.
• Are you launching a whole new site? Honestly, nothing beats the professional look of a SeedProd ‘Coming Soon’ page.
• And if you’re thinking about charging for access, you’re ready to graduate to a complete system like MemberPress.

The only thing worth keeping in mind is that content protection and site security are not the same thing. Locking a page won’t stop bots or attackers from targeting your login area. If you want proper, all-round protection (passwords included) this is where a full security plugin like AIOS becomes the more sensible choice.