Really Simple Security vs XO 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
Really Simple Security leads the WordPress.org popular list today at #17, ahead of XO Security at #987. Really Simple Security has the largest install base, roughly 100× the next: 3M+ active installs against 30K+ for XO Security. Downloads this week: Really Simple Security 91,125 and XO Security 637. Ratings: Really Simple Security 4.9★ from 8,868 and XO Security 5★ from 11 reviews.
| Metric | Really Simple Security | XO Security |
|---|---|---|
| Popular rank today | #17 ▬ | #987 ▬ |
| Active installs | 3M+ | 30K+ |
| Downloads, last 7 days | 91,125 | 637 |
| Rating | 4.9★ (8,868) | 5★ (11) |
| Last updated | Sep 15, 2026 | Jul 19, 2026 |
| Current version | 9.8.3 | 3.11.0 |
| Best rank on record | #17 | #981 |
| Days in the top 50 | 86 | 0 |
| On WordPress.org since | Mar 2015 | Jan 2016 |
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
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Frequently asked questions
Which is more popular, Really Simple Security or XO Security?
By active installs, Really Simple Security: 3M+ sites run it against 30K+ for XO Security, according to WordPress.org figures captured on October 18, 2026.
Which ranks higher on WordPress.org, Really Simple Security or XO Security?
Really Simple Security, at #17 on the WordPress.org popular plugins list today, with XO Security at #987. The ranking reflects recent installs and moves daily, which is why this page shows the history rather than one snapshot.
Are Really Simple Security or XO 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.