wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “ample themes”
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 “ample themes”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 16. 4 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Variation Swatches for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #8 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 40+ 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.
Starter Templates & Sites Pack by ThemeGrill 70K+ · 4.7★ (197)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Social Share for WooCommerce 3K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Simple Ebook Viewer 400+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 
Variation Auto Expire For WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
TalentLMS WordPress plugin 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too high 6 
Branded Social Images – Open Graph Images with logo and extra text layer 800+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #10 4 too low 7 W WP-Cycle 3K+ · 3.6★ (12) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 7 too low 8 
BoxOffice WP — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 W WP-Cycle Plus Captions 90+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too low 10 
Design Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks collection 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 
Ample Themes Demo Importer 600+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 A AI Stock Predictor — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
OnionBuzz 100+ · 4.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 40+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 6 too high 15 A Article Forge 60+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 A Aboozé Slideshow 10+ · 2.5★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 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.