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

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 “accelerate”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 3 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.

F

Ranked above its merit

FameTheme Demo Importer shows at wp.org #8 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 30K+ 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

Image Optimizer, Resizer and CDN – Sirv places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 265 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228) wp.org #3 2 too low 2 Powered Cache – Caching and Optimization for WordPress – Easily Improve PageSpeed & Web Vitals Score 3K+ · 4.8★ (58) wp.org #2 3 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #9 5 too low 5 Cloudflare Image Resizing – Optimize & Accelerate Your Images 200+ · 4.5★ (17) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 FastPixel Cache – Optimize Page Speed: Compress Images, Minify, Clean Database & CDN 4K+ · 4.8★ (50) wp.org #6 ↓1 7 Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) wp.org #7 8 Disable Bloat for WordPress & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (100) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Getwid – Gutenberg Blocks 50K+ · 4.7★ (115) wp.org #14 5 too low 10 Accelerate 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #1 9 too high 11 Image Optimizer, Resizer and CDN – Sirv 1K+ · 4.9★ (265) wp.org #20 9 too low 12 Bus Ticket Booking with Seat Reservation 700+ · 4.9★ (41) wp.org #19 7 too low 13 WP EXtra – One Click Optimize 6K+ · 4.9★ (41) wp.org #21 8 too low 14 TaxJar – Sales Tax Automation for WooCommerce 5K+ · 2.6★ (28) wp.org #11 3 too high 15 24TT Document Verifier 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #22 7 too low 16 EasyParcel Shipping– All-in-one Shipping Solution, Real-Time Shipping Rates 800+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 4 too high 17 iZooto – Web Push Notifications 900+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 F FameTheme Demo Importer 30K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 10 too high 19 Multiadmin — Simplifies admin, secures your site, and accelerates your site 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 9 too high 20 Bangladeshi Payments Mobile – MFS Gateway, QR Code, Advance COD Protection, Thermal POS Invoicing & WhatsApp Suite 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 S SnapCache 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 6 too high 22 Pressidium Performance 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↑1 6 too high 23 Tabby Checkout 4K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓1 6 too high 24 WooCommerce Gateway Affirm 6K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 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.