wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “force redirect”
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 “force redirect”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
WP Force Lowercase URLs shows at wp.org #8 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 8869 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.
WP Force SSL & HTTPS SSL Redirect 80K+ · 4.7★ (179)
wp.org #1 2 
Force Login 30K+ · 4.8★ (101)
wp.org #2 ↑2 3 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
301 Redirects – Redirect Manager 300K+ · 4.7★ (578)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #5 6 
Safe Redirect Manager 40K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #6 7 
WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
Starter Templates: AI-Powered Website Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 1M+ · 4.9★ (4755)
wp.org #14 ↑2 6 too low 9 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #13 ↑1 4 too low 10 
Force Authentification Before Checkout for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (57)
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #21 ↑1 10 too low 12 
TranslatePress – Translate Multilingual sites with AI Translation 400K+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #20 8 too low 13 
Spectra Blocks – AI Website Builder for the Block Editor 60K+ · 4.6★ (53)
wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too high 14 
JSM Force HTTP to HTTPS / SSL – No Setup, Fast and Reliable 7K+ · 5.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #7 7 too high 15 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #22 ↓3 7 too low 16 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #23 ↓2 7 too low 17 
WPForce Logout – WordPress User Login Logout Management Plugin 8K+ · 4.8★ (66)
wp.org #15 2 too high 18 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #24 ↓1 6 too low 19 
SureForms – Contact Form Builder, AI Forms, Payment Form, Survey & Quiz 500K+ · 4.8★ (102)
wp.org #17 ↓4 2 too high 20 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #19 1 too high 21 
Modern Cart – WooCommerce Side Cart & Popup Cart 60K+ · 4.9★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 5 too high 22 W WP Force Lowercase URLs 6K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #8 14 too high 23 
Entryway – WP Login & Logout Redirect 6K+ · 4.8★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑1 13 too high 24 
Hostinger Tools 3M+ · 3.5★ (40) host-installed base
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.