wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “2 factor authentication”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “2 factor authentication”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 3 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Fluistr Authentication shows at wp.org #15 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
User Switching places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 238 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184)
wp.org #1 2 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Two Factor 100K+ · 4.7★ (209)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
miniOrange 2FA – Two Factor Authentication for WordPress (OTP, SMS, Email, Google Authenticator) 10K+ · 4.5★ (385)
wp.org #4 5 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1488)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #14 ↑2 5 too low 10 
FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35)
wp.org #5 5 too high 11 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too high 12 User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238)
wp.org #18 ↓1 6 too low 13 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #20 ↓2 6 too low 15 
Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) heavy footprint
wp.org #17 ↓7 2 too low 16 
Login for Google Apps by WPAuth 10K+ · 4.6★ (64)
wp.org #13 ↓2 3 too high 17 
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #12 5 too high 18 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑2 8 too high 20 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too high 21 W WP 2-step verification 1K+ · 4.2★ (27)
wp.org #16 ↓2 5 too high 22 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #22 23 W WP-OTP 100+ · 4.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Fluistr Authentication 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #15 9 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.