wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “attempt”
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 “attempt”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login shows at wp.org #12 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.1★ average from 35 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1489)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
WP Limit Login Attempts 10K+ · 4.6★ (300)
wp.org #3 4 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #6 ↓1 7 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #11 ↓3 3 too low 9 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033)
wp.org #9 ↑2 10 
Limit Attempts by BestWebSoft – WordPress Anti-Bot and Security Plugin for Login and Forms 4K+ · 4.6★ (37)
wp.org #8 ↑10 2 too high 11 
Login Lockdown & Protection 100K+ · 4.3★ (61)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too high 12 
Password Protected 300K+ · 4.4★ (142)
wp.org #13 ↓3 1 too low 13 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #18 ↑6 5 too low 14 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #21 ↓4 7 too low 15 
WPS Limit Login 100K+ · 4.9★ (83)
wp.org #16 ↓3 1 too low 16 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #24 ↓4 8 too low 17 
WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213)
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 
Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386)
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #15 4 too high 20 
bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343)
wp.org #23 ↓2 3 too low 21 
hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88)
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35)
wp.org #12 ↑2 10 too high 23 
All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #19 4 too high 24 
SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓2 10 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.