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

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 “session security”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 3 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

BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform shows at wp.org #9 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 10 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 1039 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 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 3 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #3 4 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #4 5 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490) wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #12 ↑4 5 too low 8 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #5 ↑3 3 too high 9 Anti-Malware Security and Brute-Force Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (783) wp.org #19 ↑1 10 too low 10 Shield Security – Smart Bot Blocking, Brute-Force Login Protection & File Scanning 30K+ · 4.8★ (1039) wp.org #21 ↑2 11 too low 11 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too high 12 NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) wp.org #14 2 too low 13 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #7 ↑3 6 too high 14 Melapress Login Security 3K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too high 15 Cookies and Content Security Policy 10K+ · 4.9★ (67) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 SecuPress with Simple SSL – Simple and Performant Security 40K+ · 4.1★ (106) wp.org #20 ↑1 4 too low 17 Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 StatCounter – Real Time Visitor Stats, Session Replay & Heatmaps 70K+ · 4.2★ (56) wp.org #18 ↑1 19 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #9 ↓3 10 too high 20 DoLogin Security 7K+ · 4.5★ (13) wp.org #16 ↑1 4 too high 21 WebTotem Security 700+ · 4.2★ (13) wp.org #17 ↑1 4 too high 22 Sessions 900+ · 4.8★ (8) wp.org #15 7 too high 23 Lockora Security Audit 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #23 24 Kadence Central – Site Management, Backups, Security, and Reporting 30K+ · 4.2★ (5) 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.