Plugin Pulse Beta
← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “admin client”

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 “admin client”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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.

Ranked above its merit

Pronamic Client shows at wp.org #7 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 600+ 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

WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents places #5 on merit, 5.0★ 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 InfiniteWP Client 200K+ · 4.4★ (177) wp.org #1 2 BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 View Admin As 9K+ · 4.9★ (49) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) wp.org #9 5 too low 5 WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195) wp.org #15 10 too low 6 Jetpack CRM – Clients, Leads, Invoices, Billing, Email Marketing, & Automation 30K+ · 4.3★ (152) wp.org #14 8 too low 7 Ultimate Client Dash 2K+ · 4.8★ (10) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 WP Custom Admin Interface 30K+ · 4.7★ (160) wp.org #11 3 too low 9 Admin Bar Editor – Toolbar Customization with User Role based access & Custom menus 3K+ · 4.4★ (24) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 WP Client Reports 6K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #4 ↓1 6 too high 11 Automattic For Agencies Client 20K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 9 too high 12 Admin Slug Column 5K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #12 13 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #20 ↑2 7 too low 14 Client Portal – Private user pages and login 3K+ · 4.3★ (23) wp.org #10 4 too high 15 ACF Frontend Admin by DynamiApps 8K+ · 4.5★ (160) wp.org #18 ↓2 3 too low 16 SureFeedback Client Site 5K+ · 4.0★ (39) wp.org #21 ↓1 5 too low 17 Slash Admin 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too high 18 Simple Client Dashboard 2K+ · 4.5★ (26) wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19 Shop as Client for WooCommerce – Manual, Phone & Email Orders 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #13 6 too high 20 Hide Admin Bar Based on User Roles – Disable the WordPress Toolbar by Role or Capability 20K+ · 3.9★ (20) wp.org #23 3 too low 21 Admin Help Docs 600+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 Admin Options Pages 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #22 ↓1 23 Pronamic Client 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 16 too high 24 Admin Dashboard RSS Feed 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24

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.