wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “log ip”
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 “log ip”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor shows at wp.org #10 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 15 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 397 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #2 ↑2 3 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #4 ↓2 1 too low 4 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too low 8 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
Email Log 80K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #6 3 too high 10 
404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring 100K+ · 4.7★ (321)
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
Login IP & Country Restriction 8K+ · 4.6★ (52)
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
Simple Login Log 5K+ · 4.5★ (27)
wp.org #8 5 too high 14 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #24 ↓2 10 too low 15 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #17 ↑1 2 too low 16 
Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging 90K+ · 4.8★ (292) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor 400+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑1 7 too high 18 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
Stream – Activity Log & Audit Trail 70K+ · 4.3★ (76)
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too high 20 I IP Based Login 500+ · 4.9★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #14 6 too high 21 
301 Redirects & 404 Error Log 30K+ · 4.6★ (28)
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
User Activity Tracking and Log 2K+ · 3.5★ (34)
wp.org #19 ↑1 3 too high 23 
Trace My IP – Visitor IP Tracker, Stats Analytics & Page Views Counter with Email Alerts 1K+ · 4.5★ (21) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too high 24 S Show Visitor IP 300+ · 3.6★ (5) thin reviews
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.