wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “admin menu filter”
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 menu filter”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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 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
Admin Menu Search shows at wp.org #5 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 348 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #1 2 
Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154)
wp.org #2 3 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #3 4 
Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158)
wp.org #4 5 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 
Nav Menu Roles 70K+ · 4.9★ (219)
wp.org #8 ↑2 2 too low 7 
Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too low 8 
Admin Menu Tree Page View 10K+ · 4.6★ (48)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too high 9 Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348)
wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too low 10 
WP Mobile Menu – The Mobile-Friendly Responsive Menu 70K+ · 4.7★ (256)
wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too low 11 Admin Menu Search 3K+ · 4.9★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #5 6 too high 12 
Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too high 13 
Disable Admin Notices – Hide Dashboard Notifications 100K+ · 4.7★ (367)
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 
WP Responsive Menu 30K+ · 4.3★ (100)
wp.org #14 15 
Menu Cart for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.6★ (99)
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑2 5 too high 17 
Controlled Admin Access 10K+ · 4.8★ (45)
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 
Iks Menu – WordPress Category Accordion Menu & FAQs 10K+ · 5.0★ (27)
wp.org #18 19 
View Admin As 9K+ · 4.9★ (49)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
Simple Floating Menu 10K+ · 5.0★ (38)
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
Filter Gallery 3K+ · 4.6★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
Admin Bar Editor – Toolbar Customization with User Role based access & Custom menus 3K+ · 4.4★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 1 too low 23 
Fixed Bottom Menu 4K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24 F Filter Admin Published Default 400+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 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.