wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “admin access”
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 “admin access”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Admin Bar Editor – Toolbar Customization with User Role based access & Custom menus shows at wp.org #8 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 1281 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #1 2 
Controlled Admin Access 10K+ · 4.8★ (45)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #3 ↑2 4 
PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions 90K+ · 4.7★ (143)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #5 ↓1 6 
Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Disable Admin Notices – Hide Dashboard Notifications 100K+ · 4.7★ (367)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files 10K+ · 4.6★ (297)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too low 11 
Remove Dashboard Access 30K+ · 4.6★ (78)
wp.org #10 1 too high 12 
Admin Custom Login 10K+ · 4.6★ (388)
wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 
Temporary Login Without Password 90K+ · 5.0★ (1549)
wp.org #22 9 too low 14 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 1 too high 15 
Groups – Memberships and Access Control 10K+ · 4.8★ (382)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 Admin Bar Editor – Toolbar Customization with User Role based access & Custom menus 3K+ · 4.4★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #8 8 too high 17 
View Admin As 9K+ · 4.9★ (49)
wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too high 18 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑1 6 too high 19 
User Admin Simplifier 10K+ · 5.0★ (31)
wp.org #19 ↓1 20 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 
Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection 10K+ · 4.3★ (94) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too high 22 
Prevent Files / Folders Access 1K+ · 4.6★ (35)
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #20 3 too high 24 
Hide Admin Bar Based on User Roles – Disable the WordPress Toolbar by Role or Capability 20K+ · 3.9★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 6 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.