These 10 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Protect category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated protect apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked protect apps. To browse every protect app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Protect category.
This list ranks the top 10 WordPress apps classified under Protect by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is rating × ln(reviewCount + 1), so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses and Phone Numbers
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (93 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses and Phone Numbers holds a 4.9-star average across 93 reviews in the protect category.
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile
Ranks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a highly rated listing. A growing review traction (253 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile holds a 4.7-star average across 253 reviews in the protect category.
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a highly rated listing. Tracks at no-rating across 76 reviews — early-stage review volume. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — reCAPTCHA for WooCommerce holds a 4.6-star average across 76 reviews in the protect category.
Holds position #4 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a highly rated listing. Currently has a growing review traction (123 reviews). Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #5 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (6 reviews) with a no-rating average. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
QueryWall: Plug'n Play Firewall
Holds position #6 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 9 reviews — early-stage review volume. Refresh: daily from the source marketplace.
Currently sits at #7 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (17 reviews). AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Protect WP Config File from Phishing Attacks
Holds position #8 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (0 reviews) with a no-rating average. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Currently sits at #9 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a category-leading listing. Tracks at no-rating across 4 reviews — early-stage review volume. AppRanks tracks this listing on a 24-hour cycle.
Holds position #10 in the WordPress Plugin Directory protect category as a mixed-rating listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (0 reviews). Source: WordPress Plugin Directory's own published category position.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 10 protect apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses and Phone Numbers | 4.9★ | 93 | — |
| 2 | Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile | 4.7★ | 253 | — |
| 3 | reCAPTCHA for WooCommerce | 4.6★ | 76 | — |
| 4 | Jetpack Protect | 4.6★ | 123 | — |
| 5 | htaccess protect | 3.7★ | 6 | — |
| 6 | QueryWall: Plug'n Play Firewall | 5.0★ | 9 | — |
| 7 | Hide WP | 2.9★ | 17 | — |
| 8 | Protect WP Config File from Phishing Attacks | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
| 9 | Email Address Obfuscation | 5.0★ | 4 | — |
| 10 | wL Email Encrypter | 0.0★ | 0 | — |
Want to compare any two apps in detail (features, ratings trend, pricing plans side-by-side)? Open the head-to-head page from the "Compare to #N" link on each card above. Custom multi-app comparisons, historical rank trajectory, and CSV export are available on a paid plan.
Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.
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