wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “security question”
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 “security question”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Melapress Login Security shows at wp.org #11 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 20 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Translate WordPress with GTranslate places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 4962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #1 2 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too high 5 
MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559)
wp.org #5 6 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too low 7 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too low 10 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #12 ↑1 2 too low 11 
FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35)
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #21 ↑3 9 too low 13 
Cookies and Content Security Policy 10K+ · 4.9★ (67)
wp.org #13 ↑1 14 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333)
wp.org #16 ↑3 2 too low 15 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #19 ↑4 4 too low 16 
WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213)
wp.org #18 ↑3 2 too low 17 
Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ · 4.8★ (62)
wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too high 18 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (160)
wp.org #24 ↓6 5 too low 20 Melapress Login Security 3K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #11 9 too high 21 
SecuPress with Simple SSL – Simple and Performant Security 40K+ · 4.1★ (106)
wp.org #17 ↑3 4 too high 22 
WP fail2ban – Advanced Security 60K+ · 4.2★ (71)
wp.org #20 ↑2 2 too high 23 
WebTotem Security 800+ · 4.2★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑2 8 too high 24 
CMS ADMINS Security Check Report 400+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 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.