wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “risks”
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 “risks”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 4 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
Tamara Checkout shows at wp.org #10 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Temporary Login Without Password places #10 on merit, 5.0★ from 1549 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.
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #1 2 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #3 ↑2 1 too low 3 
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #7 ↑1 2 too low 6 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 
WooCommerce PayPal Payments 800K+ · 2.9★ (583) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #2 5 too high 8 
Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓2 2 too high 9 
WP Rollback – Rollback Plugins and Themes 200K+ · 4.9★ (215)
wp.org #9 ↓2 10 Temporary Login Without Password 90K+ · 5.0★ (1549)
wp.org #16 6 too low 11 
String locator 100K+ · 4.6★ (125)
wp.org #11 12 
File Manager Pro – Filester 100K+ · 4.9★ (155)
wp.org #14 ↑10 2 too low 13 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #18 ↑1 5 too low 14 
Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker – WCAG, ADA, EAA and Section 508 compliance 10K+ · 4.9★ (80) not PHP-current
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (199)
wp.org #20 5 too low 16 
Disable All WordPress Updates 20K+ · 4.8★ (69)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
WP Meteor Website Speed Optimization Addon 20K+ · 4.7★ (77)
wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 
Titan Anti-spam & Security – Brute Force Protection, 2FA & Spam Filter 50K+ · 4.5★ (370) not PHP-current
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58)
wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20 
Password Protected 300K+ · 4.4★ (142)
wp.org #23 ↓8 3 too low 21 
Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ · 3.9★ (47) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 8 too high 22 
Core Rollback 20K+ · 4.7★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 2 too low 23 
Disable Everything 30K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Tamara Checkout 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #10 14 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.