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

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 “anonymization”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 5 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

Database Anonymization Free Edition shows at wp.org #6 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 10+ 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

AI Puffer – AI Chatbot & MCP Server for Claude and ChatGPT places #10 on merit, 4.6★ from 166 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667) wp.org #1 2 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 WP ULike – Like Buttons, Voting & Engagement Analytics 60K+ · 4.8★ (283) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6 SEOPress – AI SEO Plugin & On-site SEO 300K+ · 4.8★ (1267) wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 GA Google Analytics – Connect Google Analytics to WordPress 400K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too high 9 GAinWP Google Analytics Integration for WP 7K+ · 4.8★ (126) wp.org #18 9 too low 10 AI Puffer – AI Chatbot & MCP Server for Claude and ChatGPT 10K+ · 4.6★ (166) wp.org #22 ↓3 12 too low 11 TrueAna – True Analytics Dashboard 1K+ · 5.0★ (30) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 Clicky Analytics 10K+ · 4.5★ (25) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too high 13 I Recommend This – Love/Like Button for WordPress Posts 4K+ · 4.7★ (38) wp.org #21 ↓3 8 too low 14 Court Reservation – Tennis, Padel & Sports Court Booking 90+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too high 15 StoreEngine — Complete eCommerce Solution with Memberships, Licensing, Affiliates & More 700+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #20 ↑2 5 too low 16 Double Opt-In for Contact Form 7 – Secure, GDPR-Compliant Email Verification 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too low 17 Coupon Creator 1K+ · 4.3★ (37) wp.org #24 ↓1 7 too low 18 DecaLog 1K+ · 4.8★ (8) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 WM Widerrufsmanager for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 Database Anonymization Free Edition 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 ↓1 14 too high 21 Gravity Forms: GDPR Framework Add-On 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too high 22 MailArchiver 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↓2 1 too low 23 Smart Click Tracker 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 ↓2 9 too high 24 Entry Manager for WPForms – Save Form Entries to Database & Export 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 8 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.