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WordPress REST API (Version 2)

By Ryan McCue

Developer Tools & Customization / API & Webhook Integration

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

Trusted WordPress expert with 20+ years of experience evaluating plugins for the WP ecosystem.

WordPress REST API (Version 2) Review - In-Depth Analysis

Access your site's data through an easy-to-use HTTP REST API. This plugin allows for simple data retrieval and updates via JSON format.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.83/10

User Rating

4.2/5 (based on 34+ reviews)

Active Installations

10,000+

Update Frequency

Below Average It is calculated using the weighted average of same category plugins.

Security Score

1 / 10 (Very Low Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

WordPress is moving towards becoming a fully-fledged application framework, and we need new APIs. This project was born to create an easy-to-use, easy-to-understand and well-tested framework for creating these APIs, plus creating APIs for core.

This plugin provides an easy to use REST API, available via HTTP. Grab your site's data in simple JSON format, including users, posts, taxonomies and more. Retrieving or updating data is as simple as sending a HTTP request.

Want to get your site's posts? Simply send a GET request to /wp-json/wp/v2/posts. Update user with ID 4? Send a PUT request to /wp-json/wp/v2/users/4. Get all posts with the search term 'awesome'? GET /wp-json/wp/v2/posts?filter[s]=awesome. It's that easy.

The WordPress REST API exposes a simple yet easy interface to WP Query, the posts API, post meta API, users API, revisions API and many more. Chances are, if you can do it with WordPress, the API will let you do it.

The REST API also includes an easy-to-use JavaScript API based on Backbone models, allowing plugin and theme developers to get up and running without needing to know anything about the details of getting connected.

Check out our documentation for information on what's available in the API and how to use it. We've also got documentation on extending the API with extra data for plugin and theme developers!

All tickets for the project are being tracked on GitHub. You can also take a look at the recent updates for the project.

Comparing to Alternatives

WordPress REST API (Version 2) is a foundational plugin that enables RESTful API access to WordPress content. It has a couple of notable alternatives that offer similar API functionality with different approaches or additional features.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Provides a standard RESTful API for WordPress content.
Widely adopted with a strong user base and community support.
No known security vulnerabilities reported.
Facilitates integration with external applications and mobile apps.
Open source and free to use without a pro version.

Weaknesses

No active development or clear communication about plugin status, leading to user confusion.
Compatibility issues reported with newer PHP versions (e.g., PHP 7.2).
Limited user management capabilities, such as creating new users via the API.
Lacks a pro version with enhanced features or dedicated support.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a majority of 5-star ratings (76.5%) and some 3-star reviews, users generally appreciate the plugin's capabilities. However, about 14.7% of ratings are 1-star, reflecting significant frustrations among some users.

Positive highlights

"I love this plugin, so I make a ruby gem to wrapper calls" - devyohan
"Muitas possibilidades... agora eu tenho muitas possibilidades em meus projetos com app mobile" - raphaelnikson
Users praise the plugin for enabling RESTful content access and integration with mobile applications.

Common complaints

Unable to create new users via the API, receiving permission errors.
Compatibility issues with PHP 7.2 causing errors and warnings.
Plugin appears abandoned with no clear notice, causing user confusion and wasted time.

Weaknesses

Lack of updates and communication from developers.
Compatibility problems with recent PHP versions.
Limited functionality in user creation and management via the API.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Developers and site owners who need a standard RESTful API to access WordPress content and are comfortable managing potential compatibility issues or lack of active support.

Not ideal for

Users seeking a fully supported, actively maintained plugin with advanced features or those needing reliable user management capabilities through the API, especially on newer PHP versions.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides full REST API functionality to access and manipulate WordPress content without restrictions.

Final Verdict

WordPress REST API (Version 2) remains a key plugin for enabling RESTful access to WordPress content, with strong positive feedback from many users appreciating its core functionality and security. However, the plugin shows signs of abandonment, with compatibility issues on newer PHP versions and limited user management features causing frustration among some users.

While it offers solid value as a free plugin with no known security vulnerabilities, users should consider alternatives if they require active support, advanced features, or compatibility with the latest PHP environments. Overall, it is a useful tool for developers comfortable with its limitations and current maintenance status.