wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “xml rpc”
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 “xml rpc”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
Remove XML-RPC Methods shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 1K+ 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
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #7 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 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.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 D Disable XML-RPC 200K+ · 4.1★ (34)
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1488)
wp.org #6 ↓3 3 too low 4 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #11 ↑2 7 too low 5 
Disable XML-RPC-API 100K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #17 10 too low 8 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #19 ↓3 10 too low 10 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915)
wp.org #20 ↑2 10 too low 11 
Stop XML-RPC Attacks 6K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↑2 8 too high 12 
Disable Comments 1M+ · 4.7★ (281)
wp.org #15 ↓3 3 too low 13 
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #12 ↑3 1 too high 14 
Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420)
wp.org #23 9 too low 15 
Simple Disable XML-RPC 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↑9 10 too high 16 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↑2 17 
Disable XML-RPC Pingback 60K+ · 3.9★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓2 9 too high 18 
IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35)
wp.org #18 19 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 
XO Security 30K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 Remove XML-RPC Methods 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 
Hostinger Tools 3M+ · 3.5★ (40) host-installed base
wp.org #14 ↓3 8 too high 23 
SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-currenthost-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓4 10 too high 24 
CloudSecure WP Security 100K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓5 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.