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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “security seals”

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 seals”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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.

M

Ranked above its merit

Marquix – Marquee, Scrolling Text & Logo Carousel for Elementor shows at wp.org #4 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 200+ 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

FunnelKit – Funnel Builder Plugin for WooCommerce Checkout places #2 on merit, 5.0★ from 1028 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Germanized for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (496) wp.org #6 5 too low 2 FunnelKit – Funnel Builder Plugin for WooCommerce Checkout 30K+ · 5.0★ (1028) wp.org #8 6 too low 3 The GDPR Framework By Data443 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 SiteLock Security – WP Hardening, Login Security & Malware Scans 1K+ · 3.4★ (14) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 WP DSGVO Tools (GDPR) 10K+ · 4.0★ (116) wp.org #9 4 too low 6 TrustedSite 10K+ · 4.2★ (26) wp.org #10 4 too low 7 Nexura Security — Malware Scanner, Firewall, 2FA & WordPress Security 10+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #1 6 too high 8 Signature Add-On for Gravity Forms 1K+ · 3.9★ (21) wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too low 9 Trust Badges – Payment Icons & Secure Checkout Seals for WooCommerce 400+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 6 too high 10 One Page Quick Checkout for WooCommerce 200+ · 4.3★ (9) wp.org #11 1 too low 11 MoeSec Security – Comprehensive Malware Scanner & Security Suite 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 4 too high 12 CloneGuard Security Scanning 10+ · 4.9★ (7) wp.org #20 8 too low 13 M Marquix – Marquee, Scrolling Text & Logo Carousel for Elementor 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 9 too high 14 ManageX – Pre-Orders, Product Badges, Buy Now, Quick View, Advanced Cart and More for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too high 15 BetterShield – Security Audit, 2FA, Passkeys & Login Protection 300+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↑3 3 too high 16 CartHacker Trust Badges & Seals — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17 PCrisk Trust Badge – Website Security Seal & Malware Scanner — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Trustbadg – Trust Badges, Payment Icons & Secure Checkout Seals — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 LGPD Framework By Data443 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 Tohidul Certificate Verification System 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 1 too high 21 Midrag Trust Widget 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 22 The CCPA Framework By Data443 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 23 G Go Dark 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↑1 24 Jobber 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓1

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.