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

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 “harden”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

Expire User Passwords shows at wp.org #8 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates places #10 on merit, 4.6★ from 388 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #1 2 WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213) wp.org #2 3 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 AntiVirus 30K+ · 4.1★ (23) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Login With Ajax – Fast Logins, 2FA, Redirects 10K+ · 4.6★ (167) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #9 3 too low 7 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #11 ↑2 4 too low 8 Salt Shaker 7K+ · 4.7★ (27) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too low 10 The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388) wp.org #22 ↑1 12 too low 11 SiteLock Security – WP Hardening, Login Security & Malware Scans 1K+ · 3.4★ (14) wp.org #5 ↓1 6 too high 12 Apocalypse Meow 300+ · 5.0★ (23) wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too low 13 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #16 ↑2 3 too low 14 Security Safe 600+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #15 1 too low 15 Expire User Passwords 3K+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #8 7 too high 16 Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks 2K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too high 17 NETSENSAI Shield 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too high 18 Automatic Translator with Google Translate 2K+ · 4.4★ (11) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 AdminEase – All-in-One Admin Toolkit: Security & Performance 60+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #21 2 too low 20 PublishPress Shortlinks – The Link Manager for WordPress 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 4 too low 21 Zamok – Security and Site Tools 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 Security Ninja For MainWP 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 2 too high 23 Security Hardener 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 5 too high 24 AMSites Login Customizer 30+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.