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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “script integrity”

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 “script integrity”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 2 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

InTouch Integrity Guard shows at wp.org #10 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 10+ 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

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 491 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #1 2 UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706) wp.org #2 3 Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (783) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #20 10 too low 11 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #9 2 too high 12 Cyr to Lat Enhanced 80K+ · 4.6★ (51) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Fast Velocity Minify 30K+ · 4.6★ (195) wp.org #19 6 too low 14 Total Upkeep – WordPress Backup Plugin plus Restore & Migrate by BoldGrid 40K+ · 4.8★ (442) wp.org #18 4 too low 15 NinjaScanner – Virus & Malware scan 40K+ · 4.0★ (36) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 atec Cache APCu 3K+ · 4.9★ (21) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 atec Cache Info 1K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #14 3 too high 18 تقویم فارسی – Persian Calendar 3K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #24 5 too low 20 WP Anti-Clickjack 3K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 4 too high 21 atec Dir Scan 60+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 2 too low 22 InTouch Integrity Guard 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 12 too high 23 EqualWeb Accessibility 4K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 atec Profiler 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 2 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.