wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “block hackers”
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 “block hackers”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 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
Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email shows at wp.org #15 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 ↓2 1 too high 5 
MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559)
wp.org #5 6 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Stop User Enumeration 60K+ · 4.9★ (132)
wp.org #8 9 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too high 12 
Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #12 ↑1 13 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1488)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
Meow Gallery 10K+ · 4.9★ (203)
wp.org #24 10 too low 15 
SecuPress with Simple SSL – Simple and Performant Security 40K+ · 4.1★ (106)
wp.org #17 ↑1 2 too low 16 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓1 17 
Zero Spam for WordPress 20K+ · 4.1★ (143) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↑4 4 too high 18 
All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #14 ↑2 4 too high 19 
Disable XML-RPC-API 100K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too high 20 
Protect WP Admin 10K+ · 3.6★ (50)
wp.org #20 ↑2 21 
Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Two Factor (2FA) Authentication via Email 9K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 
Social Rocket – Social Sharing Plugin 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 24 
Admin login URL Change 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 5 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.