wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “access page”
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 “access page”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.3★ average from 94 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #7 on merit, 5.0★ from 1525 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
Duplicate Page 3M+ · 4.8★ (466)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #3 4 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #4 5 
Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Under Construction 600K+ · 4.8★ (1285)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525)
wp.org #13 6 too low 8 
Simple Page Access Restriction 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Restricted Site Access 10K+ · 4.8★ (62)
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files 10K+ · 4.6★ (297)
wp.org #10 11 
PPWP – Password Protect Pages 30K+ · 4.7★ (271)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Page Builder by SiteOrigin 400K+ · 4.8★ (1005)
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 
Website Builder by SeedProd — Theme Builder, Landing Page Builder, Coming Soon Page, Maintenance Mode 600K+ · 4.9★ (4699)
wp.org #18 5 too low 14 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #19 5 too low 15 
Controlled Admin Access 10K+ · 4.8★ (45)
wp.org #9 6 too high 16 
CMS Tree Page View – Reorder Pages with a Drag-and-Drop Tree 50K+ · 4.9★ (365)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
Remove Dashboard Access 30K+ · 4.6★ (78)
wp.org #11 6 too high 18 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #16 3 too high 20 
Groups – Memberships and Access Control 10K+ · 4.8★ (382)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection 10K+ · 4.3★ (94) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 7 too high 22 
Admin Menu Tree Page View 10K+ · 4.6★ (48)
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Bold Page Builder 40K+ · 3.6★ (66)
wp.org #20 3 too high 24 
Hide Page And Post Title 40K+ · 3.6★ (54)
wp.org #21 3 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.