wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “failed attempts”

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 “failed attempts”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Spark GF Failed Submissions shows at wp.org #15 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 70+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more places #11 on merit, 4.6★ from 709 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1489) wp.org #1 2

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3

Limit Attempts by BestWebSoft – WordPress Anti-Bot and Security Plugin for Login and Forms 4K+ · 4.6★ (37) wp.org #2 ↑2 1 too high 4

Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) wp.org #4 ↓1 5

Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too high 7

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #7 ↑1 8

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #9 ↓2 1 too low 9

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #11 ↑9 2 too low 10

Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528) wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too low 11

Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more 500K+ · 4.6★ (709) wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too low 12

Password Protected 300K+ · 4.4★ (142) wp.org #13 ↑6 14

Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #18 4 too low 15

Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16

FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #8 ↑4 8 too high 17

Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262) wp.org #20 ↓4 3 too low 18

WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213) wp.org #23 5 too low 19

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑2 20

All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35) wp.org #16 ↓5 4 too high 21

Simple Login Log 5K+ · 4.5★ (27) wp.org #24 3 too low 22

SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 8 too high 23

Limit Login Attempts (Spam Protection) 200+ · 3.9★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24

Spark GF Failed Submissions 70+ · 4.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #15 9 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.