Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP
by Andrea Ferro · Security
Best all-in-one WordPress security plugin, uses HTTP & HSTS response headers to avoid vulnerabilities: XSS, injection, clickjacking. Force HTTP/HTTPS.
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
B 77/100
no flags
Active installs
90K+
≈99K estimated
Momentum
-41%
downloads vs prior 30d
Biggest opportunity: Support resolution scores 0/100. Mark more forum threads resolved — the resolved ratio feeds the ranking.
77 health vs 66 average across 1,776 Security plugins
Install conversion
How it's measured →5.4%
of downloads still active
At least 90K of 1.7M lifetime downloads are still running, above its category: the median Security plugin keeps 1.4%, across 1,061 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 7 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.
Well optimized
Most to gain: Support resolution
Updated 2 days ago
Tested up to WordPress 7.0.8, the current branch or newer
4.9★ over 79 reviews, smoothed to 4.59★
5 of 5 tags set · short description in place
0 of 7 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.
36
Momentum
Losing ground
-0.8
Velocity
places per keyword, 28d
16%
Breadth
of keywords climbing, 28d
+0.2
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| hsts your tag | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| clickjacking your tag | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| csp your tag | #2 | #1 | down 1 |
| seo security headers | #1 | #1 | 0 |
| cyber security | #2 | #2 | 0 |
| headers security your tag | #4 | #5 | down 2 |
| headers your tag | #5 | #6 | down 3 |
| http headers | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| xss | #7 | #6 | down 1 |
| ad security | #3 | #4 | 0 |
| security headers | #7 | #7 | down 3 |
| injection | #10 | #9 | down 2 |
| response | #13 | #15 | 0 |
| content security policy | #10 | #9 | down 2 |
| wordpress http headers security | #7 | #9 | up 1 |
| security | #21 | #16 | down 2 |
| https | #19 | #14 | down 2 |
| http https apache | #8 | #9 | 0 |
| security audit | #14 | #12 | 0 |
| wordpress security | #20 | #20 | down 1 |
282 searches this plugin appeared in over the last 90 days, 20 listed. 244 left out as unrelated or noise (years, numbers, stray words).
What to do about it
- Your five tags are all earning their place. Each gets you onto page 1 of its own search, so none is worth giving up. “xss”, “content security policy” and “injection” (#7, #10 and #10 untagged) would be the next worth testing if a slot frees up.
Daily downloads
Since 5 Oct 2022 · 1,489 days · wp.org + Plugin Pulse archive
30-day downloads
Rolling 30-day volume · peak 214.3K · 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.
7
releases in the last 12 months
2d ago
latest release · v5.3.6 · 30 Oct 2026
44
tagged releases on record
Recent releases
What its installed base runs
via wordpress.orgShare of active installs on each version of this plugin · 74% run the current release. 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 “90K+”. Our estimate pins where the real number sits.
Crossed into this band 13 months 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 16 Jun 2022
Recent reviews
All reviews on wp.org ↗- ★★★★★ Eduard Doloc3mo ago
before I would have to write the security headers per setup: some hosting providers would already write some, some setups have cloudflare, other setups have nginx and it’s more complicated to do that. This is just a simple plug & play, if you have issues then use the settings. for now it worked fine, hopefully it will keep doing it’s job properly! many thanks to the author!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ mesmer77mo ago
Adds a lot of unnecessary headers that accomplish nothing. And it seems to slow page load. You’re better off manually editing the htaccess file with just a few absolutely necessary headers.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Ben10mo ago
Fantastic Plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ ElsBer11mo ago
I already loved the plugin! But the help I received from Andrea Ferro when a problem arose was also fantastic. Fantastic!Thanks
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ Fantou11mo ago
A very usefull and efficient plugin which bring important security to websites by just installing it !I have some questions and the support was very friendly and quick to answer. Thanks for your great plugin and your kindness !
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ boxhamster11mo ago
5 stars for this plugin. It’s well done and Andrea is super helpful and fast with questions! Highly recommended. Thank you.
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ pikapower12mo ago
I was tired of changing htaccess every time and still didn’t get a good score for my security header. At last I found this plugin and it works great! Also the support from Andrea is phenomenal! Thanks for your help and this plugin!
Read on wp.org ↗ - ★★★★★ e_guardia12mo ago
An essential plugin for all of our sites, just install it and it works. Big thanks to the developer for improving everyone’s security.
Read on wp.org ↗
Latest updates
via wp.org changelogRecent releases and news for this plugin
- — Version 5.3.3 This update introduces Shield — optional advanced tools for professionals who need deeper security monitoring. Every existing feature remains completely free, forever. New: Shield tab-based interface (Settings, Dashboard 5.3.3
- — Version 5.2.5 I don’t want to tell you what to do, but here’s the thing: When you update the Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP plugin, you don’t just click a button, you enter a world of enhanced security and performance. With versi 5.2.5
- — Version 5.3.4 This release fixes duplicate security headers and makes header delivery predictable on every server. Fixed: Duplicate headers (Content-Security-Policy, Referrer-Policy, Cross-Origin-*, X-Permitted-Cross-Domain-Policies, 5.3.4
- — Version 5.3.5 This release brings back server-level header coverage (cached pages and static files) that 5.3.4 lost, without reintroducing duplicate headers. Fixed: On full-page caches and static files (CSS, JS, images) the security h 5.3.5
- — Version 5.3.6 This release fixes a 502 error on logout that could occur on nginx-in-front-of-Apache hosting (Plesk, webgo and similar). Fixed: Logging out of WordPress could return “502 Bad Gateway” from nginx (with “upstream sent too 5.3.6
Languages
via translate.wordpress.orgTranslated into 18 languages, 5 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.
Share of voice
How often each assistant names Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP when asked about this topic, where it comes in the answer, and how that compares with its wp.org search position. Latest run 1 Nov 2026.
- Assistants
- ChatGPT, Claude
- Topics tracked
- Security
Readme readiness
6 of 8 pass · checked 28 Oct 2026Can an assistant quote this readme? Eight deterministic checks over the wp.org listing, no model involved.
- ! Says what it does Short description leans on hype words instead of saying what the plugin does.
- ✓ Has a FAQ 32 questions in the FAQ.
- ✓ FAQ asks real questions 28 of 32 read like questions a user would type.
- ! Names who it is for One audience phrase ("who need"); say who the plugin is for and what they use it for.
- ✓ Names what it works with Mentions Mailchimp, HubSpot, Stripe, PayPal and 11 more.
- ✓ Headings and lists 3 headings and 5 lists.
- ✓ Enough to quote 9,972 characters of description.
- ✓ Tags match the text All 5 tags appear in the text.
Growth timeline
Install-tier crossings we have observed, and how long each tier took to outgrow
- 2025-10-02 80K+ → 90K+ up after 160 days in tier
- 2025-04-25 70K+ → 80K+ up after 140 days in tier
- 2024-12-06 60K+ → 70K+ up after 7 days in tier
- 2024-11-29 70K+ → 60K+ down after 22 days in tier
- 2024-11-07 60K+ → 70K+ up after 132 days in tier
- 2024-06-28 50K+ → 60K+ up after 100 days in tier
- 2024-03-20 40K+ → 50K+ up after 132 days in tier
- 2023-11-09 30K+ → 40K+ up after 149 days in tier
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).
-
EssentialHeaders 40+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
Security Headers & Caching 30+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
HeaderShield 10+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
Fix It Easy Security Headers 10+ installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
AiutoComputerHelp HTTP Header Audit — installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags -
Kareva Security Headers — installs · 3.6★ · 3 shared tags
Embed this report card
Drop a live Pulse card for Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP into a readme, a review or a deck. It updates itself.
<iframe src="https://plugins.wpmayor.com/embed/headers-security-advanced-hsts-wp" width="480" height="300" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP — Plugin Pulse"></iframe> Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP: 90K+ active installs, 4.9★ (79 reviews). Plugin Pulse (WP Mayor), as of 2026-11-01. https://plugins.wpmayor.com/plugin/headers-security-advanced-hsts-wp
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