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

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 “scanner”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 3 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

Eli's PHP Compatibility Scanner shows at wp.org #8 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 1K+ 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

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 1720 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. 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★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #1 2

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #2 3

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #5 2 too low 4

Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 1 too high 5

MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #7 ↑2 2 too low 6

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #4 2 too high 7

Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #15 ↓2 8 too low 8

CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236) wp.org #16 ↑2 8 too low 9

Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ · 3.9★ (47) not PHP-current wp.org #6 3 too high 10

Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #12 ↑2 2 too low 11

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #23 ↓6 12 too low 12

SureCookie – GDPR Cookie Consent Banner, Cookie Scanner & Script Blocking 70K+ · 4.9★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too high 13

Event Tickets with Ticket Scanner 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓2 3 too high 14

Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #20 ↑3 6 too low 15

WPConsent – Cookie Banner & Cookie Consent for Privacy Compliance (GDPR / CCPA / EU Compliance Cookie Notice) 200K+ · 4.8★ (84) wp.org #24 ↓2 9 too low 16

Barcode Scanner (+Mobile App) – Inventory manager, Order fulfillment system, POS (Point of Sale) 700+ · 5.0★ (52) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 1 too low 17

WPScan – WordPress Security Scanner 8K+ · 3.8★ (28) wp.org #14 ↓2 3 too high 18

Eli's PHP Compatibility Scanner 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↑3 10 too high 19

Compromise Scanner for wp2shell 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓2 10 too high 20

BitFire Security – Firewall, Malware Scanner, Bot Blocker, Login Protection 300+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓2 2 too low 21

DevDome Malware Scanner – WordPress Malware Removal & Security Scanner 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #13 8 too high 22

VulnTitan – Malware Scanner, Vulnerability Scanner & Security 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23

Cleverhog Malware Scanner 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓2 5 too high 24

Blocks Scanner 60+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓4 5 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.