wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “failed 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 “failed login”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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

Melapress Login Security shows at wp.org #9 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 20 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Temporary Login Without Password places #5 on merit, 5.0★ from 1549 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #1 ↑1 2

Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1489) wp.org #2 ↓1 3

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4

Temporary Login Without Password 90K+ · 5.0★ (1549) wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too low 6

Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current wp.org #6 ↓1 7

LoginWP (Formerly Peter's Login Redirect) 80K+ · 4.8★ (503) wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too low 8

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too low 9

All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35) wp.org #4 5 too high 10

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too low 11

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #14 ↑2 3 too low 12

Simple Login Log 5K+ · 4.5★ (27) wp.org #7 5 too high 13

Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #22 ↑2 9 too low 14

WPO365 | SEAMLESS WORDPRESS + MICROSOFT INTEGRATION (WPO365 | LOGIN) 10K+ · 4.9★ (154) wp.org #19 5 too low 15

FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #8 ↑5 7 too high 16

Clean Login 5K+ · 4.7★ (144) wp.org #17 1 too low 17

Melapress Login Security 3K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓1 8 too high 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 #15 ↑3 4 too high 20

Teydea Login Customizer – Custom Login Page, Branding & Styling 10K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓6 4 too high 21

User Login History 10K+ · 4.6★ (29) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓3 3 too high 22

LWS Hide Login 20K+ · 4.7★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #21 1 too high 23

Entryway – WP Login & Logout Redirect 6K+ · 4.8★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24

SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-currenthost-installed base thin reviews wp.org #20 4 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.