wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “web application firewall”

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 “web application firewall”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 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.

Ranked above its merit

RSFirewall! shows at wp.org #15 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #1 2

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #2 3

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too high 5

BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #7 2 too low 6

MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #8 ↑2 2 too low 7

Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too high 8

Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too low 9

NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too high 10

Jetpack Protect 100K+ · 4.6★ (123) wp.org #9 1 too high 11

Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #11 ↑5 12

AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #22 10 too low 13

Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #13 ↑1 14

WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195) wp.org #21 7 too low 15

Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too high 16

Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #14 ↑5 2 too high 17

Jetpack VaultPress 10K+ · 3.8★ (72) wp.org #16 ↑4 1 too high 18

Cloudflare 200K+ · 3.5★ (181) wp.org #17 ↑4 1 too high 19

WP fail2ban – Advanced Security 60K+ · 4.2★ (71) wp.org #19 20

Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ · 3.9★ (47) not PHP-current wp.org #20 ↑2 21

RSFirewall! 4K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #15 6 too high 22

Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too high 23

BitFire Security – Firewall, Malware Scanner, Bot Blocker, Login Protection 300+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24

Virusdie | One-click website security 2K+ · 4.0★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #23 1 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.