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

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 “lockout”, 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 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

Atlant Security shows at wp.org #7 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 700+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 491 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1489) wp.org #1 2

Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current wp.org #2 1 too high 4

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #4 5

Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #5 ↑2 6

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #6 7

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #13 6 too low 8

Theme My Login 50K+ · 3.7★ (460) wp.org #11 ↓2 2 too low 10

Google Authenticator 20K+ · 4.3★ (135) wp.org #12 2 too low 11

Two Factor 100K+ · 4.7★ (209) wp.org #16 ↑2 5 too low 12

WPS Limit Login 100K+ · 4.9★ (83) wp.org #15 3 too low 13

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #10 3 too high 14

All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35) wp.org #9 ↑2 5 too high 15

Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #7 ↓2 8 too high 16

Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #20 ↑1 4 too low 17

Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ · 3.9★ (47) not PHP-current wp.org #19 2 too low 18

WPEPP – Essential Security, Password Protect & Login Page Customizer 3K+ · 4.1★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19

Web-Art Login Shield with reCAPTCHA 100+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #22 3 too low 20

Kadence Central – Site Management, Backups, Security, and Reporting 30K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #14 6 too high 21

mosparo Integration 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too high 22

Admin login URL Change 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too high 23

Protect Login 700+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #24

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.