wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “update lock”
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 “update lock”, 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
Lock Last Modified Date shows at wp.org #7 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 4132 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.
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #1 2 
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510)
wp.org #2 3 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8709)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites 40K+ · 5.0★ (133)
wp.org #4 5 
WP Updates Notifier 20K+ · 4.2★ (35)
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #10 4 too low 7 
Media File Renamer: Rename Images & Files for SEO (AI-Powered) 40K+ · 4.6★ (447)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
Download Monitor 80K+ · 4.5★ (525)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (200)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
WP Umbrella: Security Backup Restore & Monitoring 90K+ · 4.8★ (81)
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
Spectra Blocks – AI Website Builder for the Block Editor 60K+ · 4.6★ (53)
wp.org #13 1 too high 15 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55)
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
Password Protected 300K+ · 4.4★ (142)
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 
Username Changer 40K+ · 4.3★ (77)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #6 13 too high 20 
Lock My Site 60+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #8 12 too high 21 
WebChange Detector: Visual Regression Testing & Visual Checks After Updates 300+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 Lock Last Modified Date 80+ · 4.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #7 15 too high 23 
Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #18 5 too high 24 
AWEOS WP Lock 300+ · 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.