wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “vulnerability”
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 “vulnerability”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
Prevent XSS Vulnerability shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 399 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #3 4 
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #4 5 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #6 ↑6 1 too low 6 
Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #8 ↑11 1 too low 8 
Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842)
wp.org #13 ↓4 4 too low 10 Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399)
wp.org #15 ↑2 5 too low 11 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↑3 12 
Imsanity 200K+ · 4.9★ (291)
wp.org #17 ↓2 5 too low 13 
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #19 ↑5 6 too low 14 
Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.7★ (1071)
wp.org #23 9 too low 15 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #12 3 too high 16 
Safe SVG 1M+ · 4.9★ (79) host-installed base
wp.org #10 ↓2 6 too high 17 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #24 ↓4 7 too low 18 
Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195)
wp.org #21 ↓3 3 too low 19 
Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #22 ↑1 3 too low 20 
Patchstack – WordPress & Plugins Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 4 too high 21 Prevent XSS Vulnerability 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓3 12 too high 22 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 
WPVulnerability 10K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓10 3 too high 24 
SiteCare – Vulnerability Scanner 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 10 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.