wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “aa”
wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →
For “aa”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20.
wp.org search ranks on
Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.
We add
A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
AA Visitor Counter Widget shows at wp.org #8 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.7★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Real Cookie Banner: GDPR & ePrivacy Cookie Consent places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 492 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #1 2 
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #2 3 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #4 ↑2 1 too low 4 
User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
SimpleTOC – Table of Contents Block 10K+ · 4.9★ (77)
wp.org #9 ↑4 3 too low 7 
Responsive Menu – Mobile Menu & Hamburger Menu Builder 70K+ · 4.5★ (576)
wp.org #13 ↓4 6 too low 8 Real Cookie Banner: GDPR & ePrivacy Cookie Consent 100K+ · 4.9★ (492)
wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too low 9 
M Chart 3K+ · 4.9★ (28)
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
AccessiYes Accessibility Widget for ADA, EAA & WCAG Readiness 20K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #10 11 
WP Updates Notifier 20K+ · 4.2★ (35)
wp.org #11 12 
Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker – WCAG, ADA, EAA and Section 508 compliance 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #19 7 too low 13 
Accessible Carousel & Slider – WCAG AA Compliant Slideshow 500+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #3 10 too high 14 
WP DSGVO Tools (GDPR) 10K+ · 4.0★ (116)
wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too low 15 
12 Step Meeting List 900+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #21 ↓1 6 too low 16 
Web Accessibility (formally known as Ally) – WCAG Scanning, Guided Fixes, Usability Widget 500K+ · 2.9★ (163)
wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too high 17 
Ailo – AI Slug Translator 1K+ · 4.9★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too low 18 
SOGO Accessibility 5K+ · 4.1★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 
ImgSEO – AI Image Alt Text Generator & Image SEO Tools 400+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 
Accessibility Tool Kit: WP Accessibility checker plugin for WCAG, Section 508, ADA, EAA Compliance 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #17 3 too high 21 
PiWeb Min/Max Quantity & Minimum Order Limits for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.3★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 3 too low 22 AA Visitor Counter Widget 100+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #8 14 too high 23 
EU Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 24 
AA Health Calculator 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓3 6 too high Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.