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

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 test”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 5 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 #2 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 8 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

WebP Express places #4 on merit, 4.4★ from 162 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. 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 Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399) wp.org #8 6 too low 3 FlatPM – Ad Manager, AdSense and Custom Code 10K+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #3 4 WebP Express 300K+ · 4.4★ (162) wp.org #19 15 too low 5 LinkCentral – URL shortener, Affiliate Links & Custom Link Shortener with Link Tracking 400+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #12 ↑1 7 too low 6 My WP A/B Testing 200+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #4 2 too high 7 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 – Price Calculator Free 5K+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too high 8 FV Flowplayer Video Player 10K+ · 4.4★ (90) wp.org #17 ↓1 9 too low 9 TheDock Media – Image Optimizer: Compress Images, Convert to WebP & AVIF 400+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #13 4 too low 10 EasyTest – Simplify A/B Testing 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #2 8 too high 11 Cost Calculator for Elementor 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↓1 5 too high 12 CTA Button Styler 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too low 13 Cost Calculator & Cost Estimation 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #10 3 too high 14 Mida A/B Testing 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 7 too high 15 abtestkit – AB testing for WooCommerce 10+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #11 4 too high 16 Bible Reading Plans 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↓1 17 Cost Calculator for WPForms 100+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #9 8 too high 18 Oderland SMTP & Postal Mailer 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too high 19 Worldline Online Checkout 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↓3 1 too low 20 Unused Media Checker 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 ANON::form embedded secure form 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 AdMindra MCP – AI Connector for ChatGPT & Claude 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 SpreadsheetConverter Calculator 500+ · 2.5★ (4) wp.org #18 5 too high 24 Review & testimonial widgets 1K+ · 3.5★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓1 1 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.