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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “htaccess file”

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 “htaccess file”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 4 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

Htaccess by BestWebSoft – WordPress Website Access Control Plugin shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1146 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Htaccess File Editor – Safely Edit Htaccess File 40K+ · 5.0★ (102) wp.org #1 2 Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (441) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3 File Manager Pro – Filester 100K+ · 4.9★ (155) wp.org #4 ↑4 1 too low 4 WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 Big File Uploads – Increase Maximum File Upload Size 100K+ · 4.9★ (403) wp.org #7 ↓2 2 too low 6 File Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (202) wp.org #6 ↑1 7 WP Reset 300K+ · 4.8★ (1014) wp.org #12 5 too low 8 Redirection 2M+ · 4.4★ (703) wp.org #8 ↓2 9 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #14 ↑2 4 too low 11 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #11 12 WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146) wp.org #24 ↓2 12 too low 13 Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #15 ↑9 2 too low 14 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #13 1 too high 15 Htaccess File Editor – Easily Edit, Backup, Restore .htaccess file 6K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 ↑1 13 too high 16 User Private Files – Secure File Sharing and Client Portal Plugin 1K+ · 4.4★ (57) wp.org #16 ↑1 17 Prevent Files / Folders Access 1K+ · 4.6★ (35) wp.org #18 ↓3 1 too low 18 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #21 3 too low 19 Protect Uploads 30K+ · 4.8★ (12) wp.org #17 ↓3 2 too high 20 XO Security 30K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #23 ↓2 3 too low 21 SiteSEO – SEO Simplified 400K+ · 4.0★ (8) wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too high 22 Max Upload File Size Manager 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 Htaccess by BestWebSoft – WordPress Website Access Control Plugin 400+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↑1 14 too high 24 Easy Digital Downloads – htaccess Editor 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↓2 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.