HTTP Headers vs Improve Website Security
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
HTTP Headers leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #793, ahead of Improve Website Security at #22,666. Over the last 7 days HTTP Headers slipped 1 place and Improve Website Security slipped 29 places. HTTP Headers has the largest install base, roughly 1000× the next: 40K+ active installs against 40+ for Improve Website Security. Downloads this week: HTTP Headers 20,565 and Improve Website Security 17. Ratings: HTTP Headers 4.3★ from 70 and Improve Website Security 5★ from 1 reviews.
| Metric | HTTP Headers | Improve Website Security |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #793 ▼ 1 | #22,666 ▼ 29 |
| Active installs | 40K+ | 40+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 20,565 | 17 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (70) | 5★ (1) |
| Last updated | Oct 16, 2026 | Sep 1, 2026 |
| Current version | 1.19.6 | 1.0.1 |
| Best rank on record | #785 | #22,056 |
| Days in the top 50 | 0 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | May 2016 | Dec 2024 |
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
Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, HTTP Headers or Improve Website Security?
By active installs, HTTP Headers: 40K+ sites run it against 40+ for Improve Website Security, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 20, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, HTTP Headers or Improve Website Security?
HTTP Headers, at #793 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with Improve Website Security at #22,666. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are HTTP Headers or Improve Website Security 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.