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

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 “cidr”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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

Easy IP Blocker shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 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 #2 on merit, 4.8★ from 1039 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #1 2 Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ · 4.8★ (1039) wp.org #8 6 too low 3 LukasApps CAPTCHA tools for Contact Form 7 100K+ · 4.1★ (48) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too high 4 Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ · 3.9★ (47) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 CIDRAM 20+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #3 ↑1 2 too high 6 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #12 ↑2 6 too low 7 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too low 8 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #4 ↓2 4 too high 9 Admin login URL Change 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #6 ↑1 3 too high 10 Proxy & VPN Blocker 1K+ · 3.8★ (33) wp.org #15 ↓3 5 too low 11 Block Emails & Addresses for WooCommerce Checkout 700+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #7 ↓1 4 too high 12 Checkout Shield for WooCommerce – Stop Fake Orders, Spam Bots & Card Testing 400+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #11 ↑5 1 too high 13 Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #17 ↑1 4 too low 14 WorkflowDone Geo Blocker 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 ↓3 15 Login Delay Shield 70+ · 4.4★ (5) wp.org #19 ↑1 4 too low 16 Country Block – Ultimate Geo-Blocker, IP Ban & Login Security 100+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 CAPI Suite: Meta Pixel, Pinterest & TikTok for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too high 18 GranTech IP Firewall for AbuseIPDB 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↑2 2 too low 19 Easy IP Blocker 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↓1 9 too high 20 Fail2WP 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 Force login to make the site private – Gozer 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 8 too high 22 Password Protected Site and Store 90+ · 4.0★ (3) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 一介資男(Mxp.TW) 開發工具箱 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓7 2 too high 24 HT Security 100+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.