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

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 “deny”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 4 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

WP Consent API shows at wp.org #3 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 200K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

GAinWP Google Analytics Integration for WP places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 126 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281) wp.org #1 2

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #4 2 too low 3

Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312) wp.org #6 3 too low 4

New User Approve 20K+ · 4.3★ (131) wp.org #7 3 too low 5

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #11 6 too low 6

Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. 200K+ · 4.7★ (2215) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 ↓1 6 too low 8

Limit Attempts by BestWebSoft – WordPress Anti-Bot and Security Plugin for Login and Forms 4K+ · 4.6★ (37) wp.org #8 ↑8 9

IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #9 ↓1 10

Weight Based Shipping for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.6★ (83) wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too low 11

Favorites 10K+ · 4.6★ (133) wp.org #16 ↓2 5 too low 12

GAinWP Google Analytics Integration for WP 7K+ · 4.8★ (126) wp.org #21 ↓9 9 too low 13

PublishPress Permissions: Access Control, Content Permissions, User Access 10K+ · 4.3★ (66) wp.org #17 4 too low 14

WP-DBManager 50K+ · 4.4★ (95) wp.org #20 ↓1 6 too low 15

Sitemap by BestWebSoft – WordPress XML Site Map Page Generator Plugin 20K+ · 4.3★ (115) wp.org #22 ↓1 7 too low 16

View Admin As 9K+ · 4.9★ (49) wp.org #23 ↓1 7 too low 17

SilentShield – Captcha & Anti-Spam for WordPress (CF7, WPForms, Elementor, WooCommerce) 10K+ · 4.7★ (24) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too high 18

AI Deny 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #2 16 too high 19

Anti-Spam Protection – No API Key, GDPR Friendly 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓1 20

WP Consent API 200K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #3 17 too high 21

CookieFox – Cookie Notice 400+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓1 3 too low 22

AI Content Signals 800+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓2 7 too high 23

Deny All Firewall 50+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 13 too high 24

Htaccess by BestWebSoft – WordPress Website Access Control Plugin 400+ · 4.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑2 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.