Defender vs Security Optimizer
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
Security Optimizer leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #51, ahead of Defender at #518. Security Optimizer has the largest install base, roughly 13× the next: 1M+ active installs against 80K+ for Defender. Downloads this week: Defender 36,640 and Security Optimizer 23,751. Ratings: Defender 4.8★ from 334 and Security Optimizer 4.5★ from 157 reviews.
| Metric | Defender | Security Optimizer |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #518 ▬ | #51 ▬ |
| Active installs | 80K+ | 1M+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 36,640 | 23,751 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (334) | 4.5★ (157) |
| Last updated | Sep 7, 2026 | Aug 28, 2026 |
| Current version | 6.2.4 | 1.6.8 |
| Best rank on record | #515 | #51 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Jun 2017 | May 2021 |
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
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- Security Optimizer vs BBQ Firewall
- Security Optimizer vs BulletProof Security
- Security Optimizer vs WP Ghost (Hide My WP Ghost)
- Security Optimizer vs Security by CleanTalk
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Defender or Security Optimizer?
By active installs, Security Optimizer: 1M+ sites run it against 80K+ for Defender, according to WordPress.org figures captured on September 15, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Defender or Security Optimizer?
Security Optimizer, at #51 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Defender at #518. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Defender or Security Optimizer 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.