wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “adaptive”
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 “adaptive”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Super block slider – Image/video background & content slider shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 8K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF places #12 on merit, 4.5★ from 830 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.
ShortPixel Adaptive Images – WebP, AVIF, CDN, Image Optimization 10K+ · 4.8★ (145)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Starter Templates: AI-Powered Website Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 1M+ · 4.9★ (4755)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237) low rating, top placement
wp.org #1 2 too high 4 
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (236)
wp.org #4 5 
Smart Slider 3 800K+ · 4.9★ (1125)
wp.org #5 6 
Enable Media Replace 600K+ · 4.4★ (302)
wp.org #6 ↑5 7 
reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin 100K+ · 4.3★ (166)
wp.org #7 ↓1 8 
Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization 200K+ · 4.7★ (640)
wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too low 9 
Presto Player 100K+ · 4.8★ (346)
wp.org #12 ↑1 3 too low 10 
Resize Image After Upload 80K+ · 4.8★ (56)
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too high 11 
EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307)
wp.org #13 ↑5 2 too low 12 ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #19 7 too low 13 
Real Testimonials – Testimonial Slider, Collect Customer Reviews and Video Testimonials 40K+ · 4.7★ (226)
wp.org #17 ↓7 4 too low 14 
Logo Carousel – Responsive Logo Slider, Logo Showcase, and Clients Logo Gallery 20K+ · 4.7★ (162)
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
WP SVG Images 30K+ · 5.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 6 too high 16 
HTML5 Video Player – embed fast, responsive videos with ease 20K+ · 4.6★ (195)
wp.org #22 6 too low 17 
WP Compress – Instant Performance & Speed Optimization 9K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 
Adaptive Images for WordPress 3K+ · 4.7★ (56) closure risk
wp.org #15 3 too high 19 Super block slider – Image/video background & content slider 8K+ · 5.0★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 9 too high 20 
Product Gallery Slider, Additional Variation Images for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (160)
wp.org #23 3 too low 21 
Flying Images: Optimize and Lazy Load Images for Faster Page Speed 2K+ · 4.8★ (26)
wp.org #14 7 too high 22 
Jetpack VideoPress 7K+ · 4.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #16 6 too high 23 
Ezoic 10K+ · 3.3★ (53)
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 
Atomic Edge Security – Firewall, Malware Scan and Login Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 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.