wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “remove xml rpc”
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 “remove xml rpc”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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
Hostinger Tools shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 3M+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.5★ average from 40 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 1720 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. 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 #3 2 too low 2 
Disable XML-RPC-API 100K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #2 3 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1488)
wp.org #6 ↓2 3 too low 4 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #10 ↑5 6 too low 5 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 
Remove XML-RPC Methods 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #1 5 too high 7 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #7 8 
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #8 ↑4 9 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #18 9 too low 10 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1916)
wp.org #19 9 too low 11 
Disable Comments 1M+ · 4.7★ (281)
wp.org #14 ↓8 3 too low 12 
Disable XML-RPC Pingback 60K+ · 3.9★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #5 7 too high 13 
Simple Disable XML-RPC 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↑4 9 too high 14 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too high 15 
WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213)
wp.org #22 7 too low 16 
Titan Anti-spam & Security – Brute Force Protection, 2FA & Spam Filter 50K+ · 4.5★ (370) not PHP-current
wp.org #20 4 too low 17 
Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123)
wp.org #24 7 too low 18 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #16 2 too high 19 
XO Security 30K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too high 20 
WP Remove Query Strings From Static Resources 3K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #11 9 too high 21 
Featherweight 10K+ · 4.1★ (45) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 22 
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23 Hostinger Tools 3M+ · 3.5★ (40) host-installed base
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
No Nonsense 1K+ · 4.5★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 9 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.