wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “bruteforce”

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 “bruteforce”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 7 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

WebDmitriev Protection shows at wp.org #4 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Enlighter – Customizable Syntax Highlighter places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 65 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current wp.org #1 2

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #6 4 too low 3

reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 100K+ · 3.9★ (391) wp.org #8 5 too low 4

WP Login Door 400+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #3 1 too high 5

Enlighter – Customizable Syntax Highlighter 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #11 6 too low 6

CrowdSec 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #2 4 too high 7

WP Hardening (discontinued) 10K+ · 4.0★ (20) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #5 2 too high 8

AntiSpam for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.2★ (13) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 2 too low 9 S Security-Protection 300+ · 4.3★ (11) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 7 too low 10

WebDmitriev Protection 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 6 too high 11

Lock Login 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #7 4 too high 12

BruteGuard – Brute Force Login Protection 100+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #9 3 too high 13

Loyal Security – Firewall & Malware Scanner 10+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too low 14

Plainview Activity Monitor 100+ · 3.6★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 5 too low 15

THiS SEO 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too high 16

BusinessPress 40+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too high 17

Cisilino Site Defense Network — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #17 18

PrivateContent Free 30+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 4 too high 19

Hint 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 2 too low 20

Guard 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 2 too low 21 E Easy Bruteforce Protect 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #23 2 too low 22

Login Protection – Email login and phone login with SafePassword Login Security — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 4 too high 23

GOAuth — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 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.