wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sensitive”
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 “sensitive”, 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Microsoft Clarity shows at wp.org #6 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 200K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 4514 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #1 2 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #2 3 
Cart Abandonment Recovery for WooCommerce – Recover Lost Sales with Automated Emails 300K+ · 4.8★ (626)
wp.org #3 4 
Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (442)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323)
wp.org #7 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 
Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123)
wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too low 8 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (200)
wp.org #12 ↑1 4 too low 9 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514)
wp.org #17 ↓3 8 too low 10 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220)
wp.org #14 ↑9 4 too low 11 
Presto Player 100K+ · 4.8★ (346)
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 
Password Protected 300K+ · 4.4★ (142)
wp.org #11 ↓4 1 too high 13 
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #9 ↑1 4 too high 14 
SSL Zen — SSL Certificate Installer & HTTPS Redirects 9K+ · 4.9★ (665)
wp.org #22 ↓1 8 too low 15 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #10 ↑6 5 too high 16 
Mail logging & Catcher 20K+ · 4.9★ (108)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Secure Gateway for Authorize.net and WooCommerce by Pledged Plugins 10K+ · 4.9★ (34)
wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too high 18 
Nelio A/B Testing – AB Tests and Heatmaps for Better Conversion Optimization 4K+ · 4.8★ (99)
wp.org #16 2 too high 19 Microsoft Clarity 200K+ · 4.5★ (14) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #6 13 too high 20 
SecuPress with Simple SSL – Simple and Performant Security 40K+ · 4.1★ (106)
wp.org #20 21 
Notibar – Notification Bar for WordPress 8K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #23 ↓2 2 too low 22 
Disable WP REST API 30K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
GoSMTP – SMTP for WordPress 500K+ · 4.3★ (10) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too high 24 
Public Preview URL Manager 200+ · 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.