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Banhammer – Monitor Site Traffic, Block Bad Users and Bots

By Jeff Starr

Security & Privacy / Security Scanning & Malware Protection

Reviewed by Omar Dabbas

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

Banhammer – Monitor Site Traffic, Block Bad Users and Bots Review - In-Depth Analysis

Monitor traffic and ban unwanted visitors. Block any user or IP address so they can't access your site.

Performance Overview

WPS Score

6.66/10

User Rating

4.4/5 (based on 19+ reviews)

Active Installations

1,000+

Update Frequency

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

Security Score

5 / 10 (Medium Risk) It is calculated using the weighted average of all versions.

What It Does

Banhammer gives you full control over who and what may access your site. Visit the Armory to monitor traffic and review suspicious visitors. If you find some user or bot that is causing problems, you can ban them with a click. Or, if you just want to keep an eye on someone, you can flag them with a warning.

Any banned users will be denied access to your site, until you restore access via the Tower. Banhammer is perfect for site owners, admins, and developers who want to keep an eye on traffic and block any unwanted visitors. It is a simple, flexible, and powerful security solution.

Exclusive features in the Pro version include the ability to ban based on URI request, referrer, or user agent, and to whitelist any IP address or user agent. You can also receive email alerts for banned and warned requests and display custom messages to each banned target.

Comparing to Alternatives

Banhammer offers a robust solution for monitoring site traffic and blocking unwanted users and bots, with several alternatives available that provide similar functionalities.

Top alternatives

Strengths

Effective daily operation with reliable blocking of bad users and bots.
User-friendly interface with clear separation between monitoring and management areas.
Responsive support from the developer, especially during attacks.
Free version offers substantial functionality for basic needs.
Regular updates addressing security vulnerabilities.

Weaknesses

Limited compatibility with full-page caching plugins, affecting usability for some users.
Pro version lacks search functionality in management interface, making navigation difficult.
Over-whitelisting in Pro version can allow some bad bots through.
Cannot block user agents effectively when they come through proxies.

User Sentiment Analysis

With a high overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 and no 1-2 star reviews, users generally appreciate Banhammer's effectiveness and support, though some note areas for improvement.

Positive highlights

'Excellent plugin' that works flawlessly daily ([email protected]).
'Awesome Sauce!' with easy installation and configuration (sadduck).
Support is responsive and helpful during bot attacks (countdavid).
Plugin fulfills a big need despite caching compatibility issues (ericbonetti2017).
Free version is very good and enjoyable to use (90demi).

Common complaints

Weaknesses

Incompatibility with some cache plugins limits usage.
Pro version's management interface lacks search, complicating use.
Over-whitelisting in Pro version reduces blocking effectiveness.
Limited ability to block user agents behind proxies.

Who Should Use This?

Best for

Website owners seeking a reliable and user-friendly plugin to monitor traffic and block malicious users and bots, especially those who do not rely heavily on full-page caching plugins.

Not ideal for

Users who require seamless integration with all caching plugins or need advanced Pro features like search in management interfaces and precise user agent blocking behind proxies.

Pricing & Value

Free version includes

The free version provides robust monitoring and blocking capabilities suitable for most users, making it a valuable tool without cost.

Pro version

Offers enhanced features such as multi-site support and advanced blocking options, though some usability issues like lack of search and over-whitelisting remain.

Final Verdict

Banhammer stands out as a dependable plugin for monitoring site traffic and blocking unwanted users and bots, with a strong free version and responsive support. Its user-friendly design and effective daily operation make it a solid choice for many WordPress users.

However, limitations such as compatibility issues with caching plugins, some Pro version usability challenges, and a past security vulnerability (now fixed) suggest that users should evaluate their specific needs and environment before committing, especially if advanced features or caching compatibility are critical.

Other Notable Features

Here are a few other notable features of this free Banhammer – Monitor Site Traffic, Block Bad Users and Bots plugin.

Ban

Block

Bots

Monitor

Security

Screenshots

FAQ

No, Banhammer is developed with a focus on performance, so your site will be as fast as possible. For example, Banhammer does all of its “heavy lifting” of data only when the admin is viewing the Armory, so normal site traffic remains as fast as possible. This is why the first pass thru the Armory data can take a second or two longer than subsequent passes; Banhammer is looking up Geo/IP information, hostname information, and also performing other important tasks only when the admin is viewing the Armory.