wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “direct login”

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 “direct login”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

Teydea Login Customizer – Custom Login Page, Branding & Styling shows at wp.org #9 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

SAML Single Sign On – SSO Login places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 402 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files 10K+ · 4.6★ (297) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too low 2

Custom Login Page Customizer 50K+ · 4.9★ (477) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3

All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35) wp.org #1 2 too high 4

WPO365 | SEAMLESS WORDPRESS + MICROSOFT INTEGRATION (WPO365 | LOGIN) 10K+ · 4.9★ (154) wp.org #7 ↓2 1 too low 7

Clean Login 5K+ · 4.7★ (144) wp.org #6 ↑5 1 too high 8

Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144) wp.org #15 ↑1 7 too low 9

Client Portal : SuiteDash Direct Login 1K+ · 4.9★ (117) wp.org #12 ↓2 3 too low 10

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓2 2 too high 11

SAML Single Sign On – SSO Login 10K+ · 4.9★ (402) wp.org #20 ↓2 9 too low 12

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (398) wp.org #19 7 too low 13

Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281) wp.org #24 11 too low 14

WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213) wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15

Melapress Login Security 3K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓2 5 too high 16

Teydea Login Customizer – Custom Login Page, Branding & Styling 10K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓2 7 too high 17

Add to Cart Redirect for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.9★ (101) wp.org #21 ↓1 4 too low 18

Persistent Login 5K+ · 3.9★ (26) wp.org #11 ↓2 7 too high 19

Sky Login Redirect 2K+ · 4.7★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too high 20

Block wp-login 600+ · 4.7★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21

Protect Login 700+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓2 6 too high 23

WIP Custom Login 700+ · 3.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓1 1 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.