wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “customize wp login.php plugin”
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 “customize wp login.php plugin”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20.
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
WP SAML Auth shows at wp.org #6 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 8869 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP-Members Membership Plugin 50K+ · 4.6★ (272)
wp.org #1 2 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275)
wp.org #2 3 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220)
wp.org #3 4 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #4 5 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #5 6 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
LoginPress | wp-login Custom Login Page Customizer 200K+ · 4.8★ (1077)
wp.org #15 7 too low 9 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88)
wp.org #10 11 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #24 13 too low 12 
All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #7 5 too high 13 
WP EXtra – One Click Optimize 6K+ · 4.9★ (41)
wp.org #13 14 
Protect WP Admin 10K+ · 3.6★ (50)
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 
ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938)
wp.org #18 3 too low 16 WP SAML Auth 7K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #6 10 too high 17 
WP Synchro – The Ultimate WordPress Migration Tool 2K+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
WP Cassify 900+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #14 5 too high 20 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too high 21 
CF7 Apps – Addons for Contact Form 7 (Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, etc.) 300K+ · 3.8★ (135)
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
WP Easy Pay – Payment and Donation Form Builder for Square 1K+ · 3.8★ (42)
wp.org #20 2 too high 23 
Teydea Login Customizer – Custom Login Page, Branding & Styling 10K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 
WPEPP – Essential Security, Password Protect & Login Page Customizer 3K+ · 4.1★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #17 7 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.