BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security
by Jeff Starr · Security
Also makes 30 other plugins · 1.1M+ installs across the portfolio →
The fastest firewall plugin for WordPress. Protect against a wide range of threats with minimal performance impact.
Try it live opens a temporary test site in your browser, which can take about 20 seconds to load. Plugins that rely on outside services or a full server may not work completely there.
Health
A 91/100
no flags
Active installs
100K+
≈190K estimated
Momentum
-6%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Swap “secure”, “security” and “bots” for “fast”, “sql injection” and “wide”. “secure” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “fast” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “sql injection” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “bots” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “wide” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
91 health vs 66 average across 1,776 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →2.9%
of downloads still active
At least 100K of 3.5M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,059 plugins.
Downloads count every update, not just first installs, so older and more frequently released plugins read lower. Compare against other Security plugins, not across the directory. wp.org reports active installs as the bottom of a band, so the real rate is this or higher.
This plugin shipped 4 releases in the last 12 months, and every existing install that updated counted as another download. wp.org publishes no split between first installs and updates, so we show the raw rate rather than guess at one.
Details
Directory ranking optimization
How it's scored →How well this listing is tuned to rank in WordPress.org search, on the factors an owner controls. Not popularity, optimization.
Excellent listing optimization
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 83 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.1.4, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 160 reviews, smoothed to 4.71★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
1 of 2 support threads resolved in the last 2 months
To rank higher: Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
Get the full rank-higher report →Search visibility
How it's tracked →Directory searches this plugin turns up in, and which way each one is moving. WordPress.org publishes no history of search positions, so this starts the day we first tracked a keyword and never backfills.
39
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.3
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
22%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
-0.4
Acceleration
recent half vs earlier
wp.org is where the directory puts the plugin for that search. On merit is where it would sit if results were ranked on rating, support and updates, without the install boost. The last column is how far the wp.org position moved, from our first reading in the last 90 days to the latest.
| Keyword | wp.org | On merit | wp.org move, 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| bbq | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| impact | #3 | #2 | 0 |
| bad | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| minimal | #5 | #2 | down 1 |
| web application firewall your tag | #7 | #5 | 0 |
| firewall your tag | #8 | #7 | down 2 |
| wide | #8 | #8 | 0 |
| sql injection | #7 | #3 | down 1 |
| threats | #11 | #10 | 0 |
| range | #12 | #12 | up 1 |
| block bots | #10 | #9 | 0 |
| threat | #10 | #9 | up 1 |
| ip block | #10 | #7 | down 1 |
| xss | #11 | #9 | down 1 |
| exploit | #12 | #7 | up 1 |
| block ip | #13 | #10 | up 3 |
| ban | #13 | #10 | up 3 |
| bots your tag | #24 | #16 | down 2 |
| htaccess | #17 | #11 | down 4 |
| waf | #17 | #7 | down 2 |
| secure your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
| security your tag | Not in the top 24 | ||
177 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 152 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words). 2 of its tags aren't in the top 24 for their own search.
What to do about it
- Swap “secure”, “security” and “bots” for “fast”, “sql injection” and “wide”. “secure” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “fast” sits at #5 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “security” isn't earning its slot: you're not in the first 24 results for its own search. “sql injection” sits at #7 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. “bots” isn't earning its slot: it only gets you to #24. “wide” sits at #8 untagged, close enough for a declared tag to move it up. All five slots are taken, so one has to go.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,488 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 152.6K · peaks are release surges
Directory rank vs rivals
wp.org popularity rank over time · higher is better · when a rival's line climbs above yours, they've overtaken you
Rating trend
Star average over time · dips mark rough releases
Health trend
Composite health score, snapshotted daily
Update activity
How busy the existing users are, measured as downloads in the last 30 days for every 1,000 active sites. A spike means a new release everyone's pulling; a long, slow decline means an aging user base that updates less.
Release cadence
Actively maintainedHow often this plugin actually ships. A steady rhythm is the maintenance signal a single "last updated" date can't show.
4
releases in the last 12 months
3mo ago
latest release · v20260809 · 9 Aug 2026
37
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin. Green is the current release; a big slice on older versions is a user base that has stopped updating.
Estimated active installs
The public count shows “100K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 8 years ago; a band this size takes about a year or more to cross, which places it about 90% of the way through.
Install history since 13 Aug 2021
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ aaronl54204mo ago
IMO this plugin is essential for running a site on the WordPress platform. Built by a senior wordpress contributor, it is specifically designed to block malicious requests on a site’s server. It is extremely lightweight, the free version provides all the protection you need, and it does not conflict with other popular security plugins. If you’re experiencing an increase in bot traffic (and who isn’t nowadays) this is a MUST add!!!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ sw33t4mo ago
I can’t believe I didn’t know about this plugin sooner. I installed the counter and it’s over 1k. Seems like it’s working!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ groggy725mo ago
This is such a smart little plugin that punches far above its weight. I was getting hammered for over an hour by a bot attack from China, and even though WordFence was blocking it, once I installed BBQ the attack stopped completely. I’m so grateful. Thank you, Mr Starr. This topic was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by groggy72.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Anonymous6mo ago
The only security plugin you need for your website. Great work jeff !
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ emd379mo ago
Installation simple protection max, merci !
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mikapin10mo ago
Thanks to @jeff Starr, who is a security expert and shares very useful information on his website. BBQ is a great WordPress security plugin.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ nebuldu11mo ago
I have used BBQ Pro plugin for a few years to protect my website, and I appreciate the creators of this plugin. I recommend this plugin to everyone who has a WordPress website.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ pgmachtweb11mo ago
Easy setup, strong protection, zero bloat. Ideal for keeping WordPress clean and secure.
Read on wp.org ↗
Behavioral tests
via WP HiveAutomated install-time checks, tested on PHP 7.4.8 · WP 5.6.1
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 23 languages, 14 at 90% or more
AI assistants
How it's measured →Whether ChatGPT and Claude name this plugin when asked the category question, and whether the readme gives them something to quote.
Not measured yet for this plugin’s topics. Its tracked searches are not among the measured topics. See the topics measured so far.
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 29 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ✓ Says what it does "The fastest firewall plugin for WordPress. Protect against a wide range of threats with minimal performance..."
- ✓ Has a FAQ 12 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 12 of 12 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for Never says who the plugin is for or what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Google Analytics, REST API.
- ! Headings and lists 0 headings and 5 lists; assistants quote headed sections and bullet lists, not paragraphs.
- ✓ Enough to quote 3,853 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text 4 of 5 tags appear in the text; "secure" does not.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2018-11-01 90K+ → 100K+ up after 232 days in tier
- 2018-03-14 80K+ → 90K+ up after 127 days in tier
- 2017-11-07 70K+ → 80K+ up after 334 days in tier
- 2016-12-08 60K+ → 70K+ up after 278 days in tier
- 2016-03-05 50K+ → 60K+ up
Competes with
The plugins that solve the same job, ranked by shared tags then reach, closest match first. The letter on the right is each plugin's health grade (A best, F worst).
-
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ installs · 4.5★ · 3 shared tags A -
Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
BulletProof Security 20K+ installs · 4.8★ · 3 shared tags A -
RSFirewall! 4K+ installs · 4.2★ · 3 shared tags A -
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ installs · 4.7★ · 2 shared tags A -
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ installs · 4.8★ · 2 shared tags A
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/block-bad-queries" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security: 100K+ active installs, 4.9★ (160 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-10-31. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/block-bad-queries
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