BulletProof Security vs Defender
Two WordPress plugins head to head: ranking, active installs, downloads and ratings, from our daily tracking of the WordPress.org directory.
These aren’t all alternatives to each other — they do different jobs — so this page compares popularity only, not features.
At a glance
Defender leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #518, ahead of BulletProof Security at #1,140. Over the last 7 days Defender held its place and BulletProof Security climbed 2 places. Defender has the largest install base, roughly 4× the next: 80K+ active installs against 20K+ for BulletProof Security. Ratings: BulletProof Security 4.8★ from 674 and Defender 4.8★ from 334 reviews.
| Metric | BulletProof Security | Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #1,140 ▲ 2 | #518 ▬ |
| Active installs | 20K+ | 80K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | — | 36,640 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (674) | 4.8★ (334) |
| Last updated | Aug 19, 2026 | Sep 7, 2026 |
| Current version | 7.2 | 6.2.4 |
| Best rank on record | #1,138 | #515 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Apr 2010 | Jun 2017 |
Highlighted cells mark the strongest figure in each row. Rank and installs are from the latest WordPress.org capture; downloads are the last seven captured days.
Ranking history Lower is better
Active installs
Downloads per day
More comparisons
- BulletProof Security vs BBQ Firewall
- BulletProof Security vs All-In-One Security (AIOS)
- BulletProof Security vs Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
- BulletProof Security vs Security Optimizer
- Defender vs All-In-One Security (AIOS)
- Defender vs Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
- Defender vs Security Optimizer
- Defender vs NinjaFirewall (WP Edition)
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, BulletProof Security or Defender?
By active installs, Defender: 80K+ sites run it against 20K+ for BulletProof Security, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 15, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, BulletProof Security or Defender?
Defender, at #518 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with BulletProof Security at #1,140. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are BulletProof Security or Defender alternatives to each other?
Not all of them. Some of these plugins do different jobs and many sites run more than one. This page compares their popularity, not their features.
Where do these numbers come from?
WordPress.org publishes each plugin’s active install count and its position on the popular list. This site records both every day, along with per-day downloads and ratings, so the charts above show how the plugins have moved over time rather than a single day.