wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “scan”

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 “scan”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20.

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

atec Dir Scan shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 60+ 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

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 8869 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #1 2

Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #2 ↑1 3

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too high 5

Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) wp.org #5 ↓1 6

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #8 2 too low 7

CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236) wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too low 8

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #11 3 too low 9

UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8709) wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too low 10

Broken Link Checker 500K+ · 3.8★ (605) wp.org #9 1 too high 11

Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123) wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too high 12

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #19 ↑4 7 too low 13

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #7 6 too high 14

NinjaScanner – Virus & Malware scan 40K+ · 4.0★ (36) wp.org #6 8 too high 15

MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #16 ↑4 1 too low 16

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) wp.org #22 6 too low 17

Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #24 7 too low 18

SecuPress with Simple SSL – Simple and Performant Security 40K+ · 4.1★ (106) wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19

SureCookie – GDPR Cookie Consent Banner, Cookie Scanner & Script Blocking 70K+ · 4.9★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too high 20

XCompliant – Accessibility Scan & Audit 200+ · 4.7★ (31) wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21

Web Accessibility (formally known as Ally) – WCAG Scanning, Guided Fixes, Usability Widget 500K+ · 2.9★ (163) wp.org #21 ↓2 22

Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too high 23

atec Dir Scan 60+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↑1 10 too high 24

SiteLock Security – WP Hardening, Login Security & Malware Scans 1K+ · 3.4★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑1 4 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.