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

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 “enforce”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 2 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

Teydea Login Security – Password Policy, Complexity Rules & Expiration shows at wp.org #11 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 11 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #1 2 WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184) wp.org #2 3 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641) wp.org #6 ↑1 7 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738) wp.org #12 ↑1 3 too low 10 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too low 11 PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions 90K+ · 4.7★ (143) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 Melapress Login Security 3K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #9 3 too high 13 Password Policy Manager 6K+ · 4.4★ (14) wp.org #8 5 too high 14 Input Mask For Elementor Form Fields 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) wp.org #16 2 too low 15 Tiered Pricing Table for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (104) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 Min Max Quantities – Set Minimum/Maximum Quantity & Price Limits with Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (60) wp.org #22 ↑1 6 too low 17 SilentShield – Captcha & Anti-Spam for WordPress (CF7, WPForms, Elementor, WooCommerce) 10K+ · 4.7★ (24) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 Secure Passkeys 2K+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #21 3 too low 19 Garden Gnome Package 4K+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #19 20 Advanced Age Verification Popup 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #17 3 too high 21 Minimum Age for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.8★ (4) wp.org #23 ↓1 2 too low 22 Teydea Login Security – Password Policy, Complexity Rules & Expiration 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 11 too high 23 Teydea Password Reset – Force Password Reset & Expiration 500+ · 4.3★ (3) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Private Website – Login Required 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 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.