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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “headers security”

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 “headers security”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 6 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

GD Security Headers shows at wp.org #17 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 2528 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #2 ↑2 3 WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915) wp.org #3 ↓2 4 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.8★ (80) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too high 9 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #13 ↑2 4 too low 10 Insert Headers And Footers 200K+ · 5.0★ (135) wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too low 11 HTTP Headers 40K+ · 4.3★ (70) wp.org #10 ↑3 1 too high 12 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #20 ↑3 8 too low 13 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #14 ↑2 15 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #11 4 too high 16 U Unique Headers 10K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #15 ↓3 1 too high 17 Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too high 18 Sticky Header Effects for Elementor 300K+ · 4.5★ (69) wp.org #23 ↑1 5 too low 19 Log cleaner for Kadence Security 7K+ · 5.0★ (22) wp.org #24 5 too low 20 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #18 ↑2 2 too high 21 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 Security Header Generator 400+ · 4.9★ (7) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 GD Security Headers 1K+ · 4.0★ (8) wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too high 24 Security Headers 800+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #22 2 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.