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

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 “aol”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 of the top 20. 2 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

Muzaara Content API Microsoft/Bing Data Feed shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 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.

L

Buried gem

Lazy Load places #8 on merit, 4.0★ from 53 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 AddToAny Share Buttons 300K+ · 4.7★ (1114) wp.org #1 2 Professional Social Sharing Buttons, Icons & Related Posts – Shareaholic 10K+ · 4.4★ (1053) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 ApplyOnline – Application Form Builder and Manager 2K+ · 4.1★ (40) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery with Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Brevo, Other SMTP & More 4M+ · 4.8★ (5209) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259) wp.org #12 7 too low 6 Highlight Search Terms 6K+ · 5.0★ (40) wp.org #13 7 too low 7 Text Replace 3K+ · 4.4★ (18) wp.org #15 8 too low 8 L Lazy Load 10K+ · 4.0★ (53) wp.org #19 11 too low 9 Popular Brand Icons – Simple Icons 3K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #14 5 too low 10 TechGasp Comments Master 70+ · 3.4★ (35) wp.org #18 8 too low 11 VuloMail – SMTP, Email Logs & SMS Notifications 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 ↑2 7 too high 12 BotObservatory – Live Bot Tracker & Anti-Scraper — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 7 too high 13 A AC Print + Email — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 ↓1 6 too high 14 WP Deadlines 40+ · 4.8★ (4) wp.org #21 7 too low 15 Disposable Email Blocker for WooCommerce – Block Fake and Temporary Emails at Checkout — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 6 too high 16 6Arshid Social Community — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↓1 8 too high 17 Custom Newsletter Template 10+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 Saral SMTP — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 7 too high 19 Muzaara Content API Microsoft/Bing Data Feed 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 9 too high 20 GDPR Notice 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 2 too low 21 Mail Baby SMTP 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 S Subscribe Button by AddToAny 900+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Custom SMTP: Email Deliverability – FREE & Easy-to-use 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 6 too high 24 RSS Feed Styles 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 4 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.