wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “hide username”
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 “hide username”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20.
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
All In One Login shows at wp.org #13 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 60K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.6★ average from 35 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 3221 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.
Smart User Slug Hider 2K+ · 4.9★ (55)
wp.org #1 2 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #2 3 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1489)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033)
wp.org #7 8 R Restrict Usernames Emails Characters 1K+ · 4.5★ (25)
wp.org #3 5 too high 9 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 300K+ · 4.8★ (926)
wp.org #18 ↑1 7 too low 12 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #19 ↓1 7 too low 13 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #9 4 too high 14 
Theme My Login 50K+ · 3.7★ (460)
wp.org #14 ↓1 15 
Nextend Social Login and Register 200K+ · 4.9★ (446)
wp.org #21 ↓1 6 too low 16 
WPVulnerability 10K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #12 4 too high 17 
Trusona for WordPress 400+ · 5.0★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #11 6 too high 18 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #16 2 too high 19 
B2BKing — Ultimate WooCommerce B2B and Wholesale Plugin — Wholesale Prices, Bulk Order Form & More 10K+ · 4.9★ (109)
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
AJAX Login and Registration modal popup + inline form 3K+ · 4.7★ (120)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #13 ↑1 8 too high 22 
XO Security 30K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 
FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35)
wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too high 24 
Force First and Last Name as Display Name 2K+ · 4.3★ (18) thin reviews
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.