wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “x frame”

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

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

WP Anti-Clickjack shows at wp.org #4 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall places #7 on merit, 4.5★ from 373 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #1 2

HTTP Headers 40K+ · 4.3★ (70) wp.org #2 3

Coupon X – Discount Popups, Promo Codes Pop Ups for WooCommerce & Announcement Popups 1K+ · 4.9★ (52) wp.org #3 4

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (398) wp.org #6 2 too low 5

WP Force SSL & HTTPS SSL Redirect 80K+ · 4.7★ (179) wp.org #5 6

ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117) wp.org #7 ↑3 1 too low 7

Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #11 ↑5 4 too low 8

Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.9★ (79) wp.org #9 ↓2 1 too low 9

WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #12 ↑1 3 too low 10

Zotpress 2K+ · 4.9★ (66) wp.org #10 ↓1 11

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #8 3 too high 12

SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134) wp.org #16 ↑3 4 too low 13

Divi Torque Lite 50K+ · 4.7★ (116) wp.org #17 ↓2 4 too low 14

Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #14 15

WP Anti-Clickjack 3K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #4 11 too high 16

WP EXtra – One Click Optimize 6K+ · 4.9★ (41) wp.org #24 8 too low 17

My WP Customize Admin/Frontend 8K+ · 4.3★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too high 18

BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓7 5 too low 19

Atlant Security 800+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #21 2 too low 20

NETSENSAI Shield 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓2 5 too high 21

Custom iFrame – Embed PDFs, Videos, and External Content in WordPress (Elementor & Gutenberg) 4K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23

HTTP Security Header 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too high 24

Security Headers 800+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑1 5 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.