WP fail2ban Blocklist

50 Quality Score

Active Installs

16/30

With only 3,000 active installs and a narrow user base, the plugin sits in a small niche serving a specific fail2ban-using crowd.

Update Freshness

10/25

It was last updated on May 1, 2025, indicating active maintenance, though only 2 ratings makes it hard to confirm trend.

User Rating

6/15

A perfect 100 out of 100 from only 2 ratings is statistically thin and should be treated with caution rather than as proof of quality.

Support Health

8/15

Zero support threads opened means there is no recent evidence either way on how responsive the developer is to issues.

WP Compatibility

11/15

Compatibility is the strongest factor, supporting WordPress 4.9 through 6.8.5 and requiring PHP 7.4, which is reasonable for a 2025 environment.

Scores higher than 3% of indexed plugins

About

WP fail2ban Blocklist is a collaborative preemptive blocklist for WordPress.

Active Installs 3k+

Rating ★★★★★ 5/5

Last Updated 2025-05-01 12:27pm GMT

Requires WordPress 4.9+

Tested Up To 6.8.8

Requires PHP 7.4+

✓ No known vulnerabilities

What It Does

WP fail2ban Blocklist is an add-on for the WP fail2ban plugin that distributes a shared, community-maintained list of malicious IPs, user agents, and patterns known for attacking WordPress sites. It works with the fail2ban system service to ban offenders at the server level before they can reach WordPress's login page. In practice, it adds a preemptive layer of protection that pulls from a curated, constantly updated source.

Who It's For

This plugin is best for site administrators already running WP fail2ban and who want a hands-off way to block known attackers without manually curating their own blocklists. It is particularly useful for self-hosted sites with shell access where fail2ban is a viable option, including small businesses, agencies managing multiple sites, and anyone seeing persistent credential-stuffing attempts.

Who Should Skip It

Anyone not already using WP fail2ban or who cannot configure server-level fail2ban should skip this, since it has no standalone value as a security plugin. Managed WordPress hosts, sites on shared infrastructure, and users wanting an all-in-one security solution should look elsewhere.

The Bottom Line

WP fail2ban Blocklist is a specialized add-on for a specialized plugin, and its quality score of 53.52 reflects its narrow focus and tiny user base rather than poor code. It is a sensible choice only if you already use WP fail2ban and are comfortable with server-level security, otherwise the broader alternatives will give you far more protection per minute invested.

Pick this if you want an all-in-one security suite with broader features like SSL hardening, login protection, and a much larger install base.

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 97/100

Pick this for an application-layer firewall, malware scanning, and a real-time blocklist with country blocking, all from a single plugin.

Jetpack – WP Security, Backup, Speed, & Growth 94/100

Pick this if you also want backups, performance features, and a managed blocklist run by Automattic, though it carries a heavier footprint.

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 91/100

Pick this for a free, comprehensive security plugin with a built-in firewall, login lockdown, and database hardening that does not require server-level configuration.

Safe SVG 89/100

Pick this only if your actual concern is allowing SVGs to be uploaded safely, since it addresses a completely different security problem than login attacks.