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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wordpress http headers 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 “wordpress http headers security”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 6 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

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… shows at wp.org #11 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 1146 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915) wp.org #1 2 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #2 3 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #3 4 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #4 2 too high 7 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992) wp.org #9 ↓2 2 too low 8 Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334) wp.org #8 ↑1 9 Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.8★ (80) wp.org #7 ↑1 2 too high 10 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146) wp.org #18 ↑1 7 too low 12 MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157) wp.org #10 2 too high 13 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #13 14 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #22 ↑1 8 too low 15 WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228) wp.org #24 9 too low 16 BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) wp.org #15 ↑3 1 too high 17 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #11 6 too high 18 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #19 ↓3 1 too high 21 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 Security Header Generator 400+ · 4.9★ (7) wp.org #23 ↓2 1 too low 23 GD Security Headers 1K+ · 4.0★ (8) wp.org #17 6 too high 24 HTTP Security Header 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #21 ↑1 3 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.