wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “restrict blocks”
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 “restrict blocks”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 of the top 20. 5 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
Advanced Datepicker – Restricts Date for Contact Form 7 shows at wp.org #9 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 1516 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page Builder for Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns 100K+ · 4.9★ (216) heavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
Block Visibility — Conditional Visibility Control for the Block Editor 40K+ · 4.9★ (108)
wp.org #2 3 
Content Control – The Ultimate Content Restriction Solution! Restrict Content, Create Conditional Blocks & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (575)
wp.org #6 ↓2 3 too low 4 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too low 5 R Restrict Usernames Emails Characters 1K+ · 4.5★ (25)
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #11 ↑2 5 too low 7 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #15 ↑2 8 too low 8 
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738)
wp.org #16 ↓1 8 too low 9 
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction 10K+ · 4.7★ (270)
wp.org #14 5 too low 10 Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #20 10 too low 11 
Page Restrict for WooCommerce 700+ · 4.7★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↑1 7 too high 12 
Membership Plugin – Kadence Memberships 8K+ · 3.1★ (100) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #5 ↑2 7 too high 13 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #22 9 too low 14 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↑5 4 too low 15 
Conditional Blocks – Advanced Content Visibility Control for WordPress 2K+ · 4.9★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #10 5 too high 16 
Restrict – membership, site, content and user access restrictions for WordPress 2K+ · 4.2★ (25)
wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too high 17 
JetFormBuilder — Dynamic Blocks Form Builder 80K+ · 4.2★ (72)
wp.org #21 4 too low 18 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 
ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 20 
MaxiBlocks Builder | 17,000+ Design Assets, Patterns, Icons & Starter Sites 600+ · 5.0★ (17) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21 
Advanced Datepicker – Restrict Date for Elementor Forms 800+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 13 too high 22 
Restrict WP Upload Type 300+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 9 too high 23 
bBlocks – Essential Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns Collection 700+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 6 too high 24 Advanced Datepicker – Restricts Date for Contact Form 7 500+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 15 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.