wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “secure sharing”
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 “secure sharing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Filr – Secure document library shows at wp.org #4 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 700+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.6★ average from 18 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection places #9 on merit, 4.6★ from 3992 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Secure Copy Content Protection and Content Locking 20K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #1 2 
User Private Files – Secure File Sharing and Client Portal Plugin 1K+ · 4.4★ (57)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Social Login, Social Sharing by miniOrange 10K+ · 4.6★ (356)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380)
wp.org #9 ↑2 3 too low 7 
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184)
wp.org #7 ↑1 8 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too low 9 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #13 ↓2 4 too low 10 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #11 ↑7 1 too low 11 Filr – Secure document library 700+ · 4.6★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #4 7 too high 12 
Super Web Share – Native Social Sharing Button 2K+ · 4.9★ (29)
wp.org #6 ↓1 6 too high 13 
PDF Embedder – PDF Viewer & Embed PDF Files for WordPress 300K+ · 4.7★ (529)
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 
Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251)
wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too low 15 
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction 10K+ · 4.7★ (270)
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too low 16 
Passster – Password Protect Pages and Content 10K+ · 4.2★ (60)
wp.org #12 ↓2 4 too high 17 
Machete 6K+ · 5.0★ (52)
wp.org #17 18 
Zero Spam for WordPress 20K+ · 4.1★ (143)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
Redis Object Cache 500K+ · 4.5★ (179)
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
Smart COD for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (52)
wp.org #20 21 
All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35)
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 
CookieAdmin – Cookie Consent Banner 400K+ · 5.0★ (4) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too high 23 
Screen Sharing System 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓3 7 too high 24 
Advanced Passkeys for Secure Login 40+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.