Md. Rakib Ullah

Running a Headless WordPress site often involves exposing the REST API. Headless REST API Security provides tools for administrators to control which endpoints are accessible to the public or external applications.
This plugin restricts public access to REST API endpoints by default and offers a settings interface to allow-list only the specific routes required by a frontend application (such as Next.js, Gatsby, or mobile apps).
<h3>Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Access Control: Restrict default public access to REST API endpoints.</li>
<li>Route Allow-Listing: Specific API routes (e.g., <code>/wp/v2/posts</code>) can be enabled while others remain restricted.</li>
<li>API Key Authentication: Supports an <code>X-API-KEY</code> header for server-to-server or frontend requests.</li>
<li>Headless Redirect: Option to redirect users accessing the backend API URL to a specified frontend domain.</li>
<li>Admin Access: Logged-in Administrators and Editors retain access to the API to support the Block Editor (Gutenberg) functionality.</li>
<li>Plugin Support: Detects routes registered by third-party plugins for configuration.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Usage</h3>
<ol>
<li>Navigate to Settings > Headless Security in the WordPress dashboard.</li>
<li>Enable the Master Switch to activate the access restrictions.</li>
<li>Review the list of REST API routes and check the Allow box for endpoints the application requires.</li>
<li>Copy the generated API Key for use in application headers.</li>
<li>(Optional) Enter a Headless Frontend URL to configure redirects for visitors.</li>
</ol>

Headless REST API Security

Excellent plugin! Secures my headless WordPress API quickly and easily. Works perfectly with Next.js and mobile apps

Best Plugin for Securing Headless WordPress

Manage access to the WordPress REST API by restricting public endpoints, enabling specific route allow-listing, and handling API key authentication.

Josh Pollock

Ben Meredith

Jason Bahl

Headless mode sets up a redirect for all users trying to access the site. The only requests that are granted admission are ones that are either trying to access the REST API, the WP GraphQL API, or any logged-in user looking to access the headless install to edit or create posts.

Headless Mode

This tiny plugin works exactly as intended. 

Simple to set up and works great!

Once you take the head off of WordPress, nobody needs to see it. This plugin hides the front end by redirecting to the shiny static (etc) site.

Headless REST API Security vs Headless Mode