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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “rest api security”

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 “rest api security”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

CloudSecure WP Security shows at wp.org #10 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 101 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #1 2 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #2 3 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #3 4 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too low 5 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #4 2 too high 7 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #7 ↓1 8 JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs 10K+ · 4.4★ (74) wp.org #8 ↑1 9 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #12 ↑2 3 too low 10 WP REST Cache 10K+ · 4.9★ (42) wp.org #13 ↑7 3 too low 11 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too low 12 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #9 ↑2 3 too high 13 JWT Authentication for WP REST API 60K+ · 4.4★ (53) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too low 14 WPGet API – Connect to any external REST API 10K+ · 5.0★ (32) wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too low 16 XO Security 30K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 R REST API Log 5K+ · 3.6★ (24) wp.org #14 ↓2 3 too high 18 CoCart – Headless REST API for WooCommerce 900+ · 4.9★ (21) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #21 ↓8 2 too low 20 Atlant Security 800+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too high 21 SMNTCS Disable REST API User Endpoints 8K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #11 ↓1 10 too high 22 CloudSecure WP Security 100K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↓2 12 too high 23 REST API Guard 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↑1 24 Headless REST API Security 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓1

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.