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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “ab”

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 “ab”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 4 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

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 it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

EasyTest – Simplify A/B Testing shows at wp.org #5 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 202 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Nelio A/B Testing – AB Tests and Heatmaps for Better Conversion Optimization 4K+ · 4.8★ (99) wp.org #1 2 Insert Headers And Footers 200K+ · 5.0★ (135) wp.org #2 3 Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399) wp.org #12 9 too low 4 Calculation for contact form 7 1K+ · 4.5★ (22) wp.org #11 7 too low 5 AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 6K+ · 4.8★ (202) wp.org #23 18 too low 6 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 – Price Calculator Free 5K+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #6 7 PiWeb Min/Max Quantity & Minimum Order Limits for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.3★ (11) wp.org #10 3 too low 8 Animated Blocks on Scroll 2K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Abs – Additional block styles 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 FV Flowplayer Video Player 10K+ · 4.4★ (90) wp.org #22 12 too low 11 AffiliatePages – Pros & Cons, Notice, and CTA Blocks for Affiliates 2K+ · 4.3★ (24) wp.org #24 13 too low 12 Administrator Z 300+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #17 5 too low 13 AB Age Gate 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 10 too high 14 Wingify 4K+ · 3.0★ (6) wp.org #8 6 too high 15 FlatPM – Ad Manager, AdSense and Custom Code 10K+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 My WP A/B Testing 200+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Cost Calculator for Elementor 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 10 too high 18 avalex – Automatisch sichere Rechtstexte 900+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 EasyTest – Simplify A/B Testing 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 14 too high 20 Fail2WP 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 21 Dr. Flex 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 12 too high 22 Bastora Security Audit 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 4 too high 23 Cost Calculator for WPForms 100+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 FV Player 8 1K+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #19 5 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.