Best Rest API Plugins for WordPress: Free and Paid (2025)
Want to manage the REST API?
By the end of this guide, you will learn about the best plugins you can use to manage the REST API in WordPress.
Here’s what we will talk about:
- What a REST API plugin does
- The best REST API plugins
- Insights on the key features and pricing
Ready? Let’s get started.
What is a REST API plugin?
A REST API plugin is a software add-on that extends the capabilities of the WordPress REST API to enhance the interaction between WordPress sites and external applications.
These plugins can facilitate a wide range of functionalities, from customizing API endpoints to improving security through authentication methods.
Essentially, REST API plugins enhance the way developers can access, manipulate, and present WordPress website data externally.
Best REST API Plugins for WordPress
Compared to other types of plugins, there are not that many plugins that can help you directly manage the REST API.
But if you’re looking for one, here are the best ones to check out first:
1. WP OAuth Server
WP OAuth Server is a comprehensive WordPress plugin that transforms your WordPress site into a full OAuth 2.0 authorization server.
It’s designed to facilitate secure authorization methods for third-party platforms, allowing them to use WordPress credentials for authentication.
This plugin is useful for developers looking to enable single sign-on (SSO) capabilities or to connect WordPress with various OAuth 2.0-compliant applications and services.
💻 Key features
- Support for all OAuth 2.0 grant types: Supports a wide range of OAuth 2.0 grant types (authorization code, implicit, client and user credentials, and OpenID Connect).
- Built-in resource server: Includes a built-in resource server, which enables custom API development outside the standard WP REST API.
- OpenID Connect and JWT support: Supports OpenID Connect for identity verification and JWT for securely transmitting information between parties as a JSON object.
- Unlimited OAuth 2.0 clients: No limit to the number of clients that can be registered with the WP OAuth Server.
- Role-based client restrictions and user info mapping: Allows for role-based access control and the ability to map user information.
💰 Pricing
WP OAuth Server is offered at different license levels based on the number of sites you intend to use it on, ranging from $89 to $499 (an all-access bundle is also available for $199).
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2. Ultimate Endpoints With REST API by Dipankar Pal
Ultimate Endpoints With REST API by Dipankar Pal significantly simplifies the process of creating and managing custom endpoints for the WordPress REST API.
It provides a user-friendly interface that allows administrators to generate secret keys for authentication, create custom endpoint URLs, and monitor API requests and responses.
💻 Key features
- Secret key authentication: Allows the creation and deactivation of secret keys which are essential for calling custom endpoint URLs.
- Easy endpoint URL creation: Users can create custom endpoint URLs in seconds, which are automatically registered with parameters defined by the user.
- API request/response logging: Captures logs of all API requests and responses and provides valuable insights for debugging and monitoring API interactions.
- Recent activity tracking: Allows administrators to keep track of changes and usage up to a specified number of days.
- Automatic log deletion: Features an automatic log deletion setting based on a defined schedule.
💰 Pricing
Ultimate Endpoints With REST API is available for free on the WordPress plugin repository.
3. Custom Post Type UI
Custom Post Type UI is a highly regarded WordPress plugin that simplifies the process of creating and managing custom post types (CPTs) and taxonomies.
It provides a user-friendly interface that allows WordPress users to extend the capabilities of their websites by adding new types of content beyond the default posts and pages.
This plugin is particularly useful for developers and site administrators looking to structure content in a way that’s tailored to their site’s specific needs.
💻 Key features
- Easy creation and configuration: Offers an intuitive dashboard that makes it straightforward to create and manage custom post types and taxonomies.
- Advanced labeling Options: Provides advanced options for labeling custom post types and taxonomies.
- Seamless integration: Integrates seamlessly with themes and other plugins.
- Support for a wide range of post-editor features: Supports various post-editor features, which makes it versatile for different types of content creation and editing.
- Separate listings for custom post types and taxonomies: Offers separate listings for managing custom post types and taxonomies.
💰 Pricing
Custom Post Type UI is available as a free plugin.
For users looking for extended functionality, there is an additional plugin called Custom Post Type UI Extended.
Custom Post Type UI Extended is priced at $29.00 for a single site license, $49.00 for a 2-5 sites license, and $84.00 for an unlimited sites license.
4. WPGetAPI
WPGetAPI is a versatile WordPress plugin designed to facilitate the integration of external REST APIs with a WordPress site.
It allows users to fetch data from various APIs and display it on their WordPress pages or posts without the need for custom coding.
This plugin is useful for site owners who want to enrich their content with data from third-party services, such as social media feeds, weather information, stock prices, or any other data.
💻 Key features
- Simple API integration: Provides a straightforward interface for connecting to external REST APIs.
- Shortcode support: Utilizes shortcodes to easily embed API data within posts and pages.
- Caching mechanism: Includes a caching system that temporarily stores API data on the WordPress site.
- Flexible data handling: Users can manipulate and customize the display of the API data using built-in tools.
- Error handling: Equipped with error handling features to manage and display user-friendly messages in case of API connection issues or data retrieval problems.
💰 Pricing
There’s a free version of it from the repository. The pro version of WPGetAPI is available for $78/year for 1 site, while it’s $125/year for unlimited sites.
5. miniOrange REST API Authentication
miniOrange REST API Authentication is a comprehensive security solution for WordPress designed to protect REST APIs from unauthorized access.
It supports a wide range of authentication methods to ensure that WordPress sites can securely communicate with external applications and services.
This plugin is beneficial for site administrators and developers who require robust security measures to safeguard their API endpoints for their site’s overall security posture.
💻 Key features
- Multiple authentication methods: Supports various authentication methods, including OAuth 2.0, Basic Auth, JWT, and API Key authentication.
- Single Sign-On (SSO) capability: Allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple applications.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two forms of identification before gaining access.
- Adaptive authentication: Adjusts authentication requirements based on the user’s context, such as location and device.
- API key management: Allows for the generation, validation, and revocation of API keys.
💰 Pricing
miniOrange REST API Authentication offers a variety of pricing plans to accommodate different needs and scales of use, ranging from $149 to $449.
There’s also a free plan you can download from the plugin repository although it supports basic authentication only.
6. JWT Authentication for WP REST API
JWT Authentication for WP REST API enhances the capabilities of the WordPress REST API by integrating JSON Web Tokens (JWT) for authentication purposes.
JWT is an industry-standard method (RFC 7519) for representing claims securely between two parties.
This plugin is handy for developers who need to authenticate users or clients making requests to WordPress API endpoints.
💻 Key features
- JWT authentication method: Uses JSON Web Tokens for secure user authentication, adhering to the IETF RFC 7519 standard.
- Easy configuration: Offers a simple setup process, including editing the .htaccess file and the wp-config.php file to enable HTTP Authorization Header.
- Compatibility with WP REST API V2: Built to extend the features of the WP REST API V2.
- Support for various PHP versions: Supports PHP versions starting from 7.4.0, catering to a wide range of WordPress hosting environments.
- Endpoints for token generation and validation: Adds new endpoints for generating JWT tokens and validating them.
💰 Pricing
JWT Authentication for WP REST API is available for free on the WordPress plugin repository, no premium or pro plans are available.
7. Advanced Custom Fields
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) is an essential tool for developers working with WordPress, designed to expose ACF fields to the WordPress REST API.
This integration significantly enhances the capabilities of WordPress sites by making ACF field data accessible through REST API endpoints.
It’s particularly useful for headless WordPress setups or any application that needs to fetch custom field data programmatically, such as mobile apps or external web services.
💻 Key features
- Seamless ACF integration: Automatically exposes ACF fields to the WordPress REST API.
- Support for all ACF field types: Ensures that complex data structures created with ACF are fully accessible via the API.
- Flexible endpoint configuration: Offers configurable endpoints for accessing ACF field data.
- Recursive ACF field retrieval: Provides the option to get ACF fields recursively.
- Enhanced API functionality: Extends the WordPress API’s capabilities for more dynamic and interactive applications.
💰 Pricing
ACF PRO licenses range from $49 to $249 per year. Not advertised on their site, but they do have a basic free plugin you can get from the plugin repository.
Choosing the Right REST API Plugin
Choosing the right WordPress REST API plugin depends on your specific needs — security, integration with external applications, or the ability to customize API endpoints.
With a variety of WordPress plugins with features ranging from OAuth2 authentication to managing API requests, it’s important to check each plugin’s capabilities with your project requirements.
Ultimately, the right REST API plugin will not only bolster your site’s functionality and security but also streamline the development process.
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