Highlights · computed from our daily tracking data
- Defender currently ranks #521 in the WordPress.org popular plugins list.
- Its best position in our tracking is #515, first reached on Aug 28, 2026.
- Active installs have held steady at 80K+ since we began tracking it in July 2026.
- It is averaging 2,016 downloads/day over the last 30 days, down 32% versus the month before (2,979/day).
- The latest release, v6.3.0, shipped on Sep 29, 2026 (17 days ago) — release #141 since the plugin joined the directory in 2017.
Ranking history
Ranking history — data table
| Date | Ranking history |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 | #521 |
| 2026-09-30 | #520 |
| 2026-08-31 | #516 |
| 2026-07-31 | #520 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Active installs
Active installs — data table
| Date | Active installs |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-15 | 80,000 |
| 2026-09-30 | 80,000 |
| 2026-08-31 | 80,000 |
| 2026-07-31 | 80,000 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Downloads per day
Downloads per day — data table
| Date | Downloads per day |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-14 | 807 |
| 2026-09-30 | 18,290 |
| 2026-08-31 | 1,689 |
| 2026-07-31 | 1,408 |
| 2026-06-30 | 338 |
| 2026-05-31 | 247 |
| 2026-04-30 | 633 |
| 2026-03-31 | 668 |
| 2026-02-28 | 369 |
| 2026-01-31 | 490 |
| 2025-12-31 | 497 |
| 2025-11-30 | 843 |
| 2025-10-31 | 921 |
| 2025-09-30 | 1,229 |
| 2025-08-31 | 418 |
| 2025-07-31 | 1,506 |
| 2025-06-30 | 921 |
| 2025-05-31 | 315 |
| 2025-04-30 | 3,141 |
| 2025-03-31 | 706 |
| 2025-02-28 | 915 |
| 2025-01-31 | 592 |
| 2024-12-31 | 737 |
| 2024-11-30 | 442 |
| 2024-10-31 | 809 |
| 2024-09-30 | 815 |
| 2024-08-31 | 400 |
Latest reading of each month from our daily snapshots; the chart holds the full daily history.
Details
| Author | WPMU DEV - Your All-in-One WordPress Platform |
|---|---|
| Current version | 6.3.0 |
| Versions released | 141 |
| Last updated | 2026-09-29 |
| Added to directory | 2017-06-07 |
| Requires WordPress | 6.4+ |
| Requires PHP | 8.0.0+ |
| First tracked here | 2026-07-23 |
Description
WordPress security plugin with malware scanner, IP blocking, audit logs, antivirus scans, firewall, 2FA, brute force login security, and more.
Frequently asked questions
How many websites use Defender?
WordPress.org reports 80K+ active installs.
How popular is Defender?
As of October 15, 2026, Defender ranks #521 in the WordPress.org popular plugins list. Its best position in our tracking is #515.
When was Defender last updated?
Defender was last updated on September 29, 2026 (version 6.3.0). It has shipped 141 releases in total.
Who makes Defender?
Defender is developed by WPMU DEV - Your All-in-One WordPress Platform. It joined the WordPress.org plugin directory in June 2017.
