wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “absolute”
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 “absolute”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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
HT Mega – Absolute Addons for WPBakery Page Builder shows at wp.org #16 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 800+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Simply Static – The Static Site Generator places #11 on merit, 4.5★ from 195 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.
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #3 ↑1 2 too low 2 
bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343)
wp.org #2 3 
Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Smart Slider 3 800K+ · 4.9★ (1125)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Absolute Reviews 6K+ · 4.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #1 4 too high 6 
String locator 100K+ · 4.6★ (125)
wp.org #6 7 
Widget Context 30K+ · 4.5★ (98)
wp.org #7 ↑9 8 
Fast Velocity Minify 30K+ · 4.6★ (195)
wp.org #9 ↑3 1 too low 9 
Redux Framework 900K+ · 4.4★ (273)
wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too high 10 
Statify 100K+ · 4.8★ (51)
wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too low 11 Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195)
wp.org #15 ↓2 4 too low 12 
Go Live Update Urls 90K+ · 4.5★ (59)
wp.org #12 ↓1 13 
Remove Dashboard Access 30K+ · 4.6★ (78)
wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too low 14 
WP OPcache 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #10 4 too high 15 
Fullwidth Templates for Any Theme & Page Builder 20K+ · 4.7★ (42)
wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too high 16 
Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131)
wp.org #18 ↑3 2 too low 17 
Notibar – Notification Bar for WordPress 8K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #17 ↑1 18 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Super RSS Reader – Add attractive RSS Feed Widget 9K+ · 4.6★ (67)
wp.org #22 3 too low 20 
Custom 404 Pro 7K+ · 4.2★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too high 21 
Wonder PDF Embed 8K+ · 4.5★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #21 22 
WP Login Form 7K+ · 4.6★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 HT Mega – Absolute Addons for WPBakery Page Builder 800+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 7 too high 24 
Laposta WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 4 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.