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

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 “checksums”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

WP Fingerprint shows at wp.org #11 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 1039 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708) wp.org #1 2 Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #9 ↓1 5 too low 5 Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ · 4.8★ (1039) wp.org #12 ↓1 7 too low 6 WP phpMyAdmin 40K+ · 4.6★ (58) wp.org #6 ↑8 7 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 AntiVirus 30K+ · 4.1★ (23) wp.org #5 3 too high 9 Code Prettify 1K+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #10 1 too low 10 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #7 ↑2 3 too high 11 Gravity Forms CLI Add-On 20K+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too high 12 Lockora Security Audit 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too low 13 Lock My Site 60+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #22 ↓7 9 too low 14 Protector – Malware Removal, Firewall & Core Repair 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↓7 9 too low 15 DevDome Malware Scanner – WordPress Malware Removal & Security Scanner 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 CMS ADMINS Security Check Report 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too low 17 payOS 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 1 too low 18 Cleverhog Malware Scanner 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too high 19 WP Fingerprint 9K+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #11 ↓1 8 too high 20 VIESAC – Free VAT Validation for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too high 21 All in One Content Protector & Security 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 Securizer 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Payment Gateway for PhonePe and for Woocommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 8 too high 24 SecurynAI – Security, Firewall, Malware Scan, and Vulnerability Alerts 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24

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.