wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “api access”
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 “api access”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
WP Consent API shows at wp.org #1 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 200K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
LiteSpeed Cache places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27820)
wp.org #3 2 too low 2 
Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420)
wp.org #2 3 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7520)
wp.org #8 ↓2 4 too low 5 
Prevent Direct Access – Protect WordPress Files 10K+ · 4.6★ (297)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Restricted Site Access 10K+ · 4.8★ (62)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Disable WP REST API 30K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #6 ↑2 1 too high 8 
PixelYourSite – Your smart PIXEL (TAG) & API Manager 400K+ · 4.3★ (281)
wp.org #9 ↑4 1 too low 9 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #14 ↑2 5 too low 10 
API KEY for Google Maps 30K+ · 4.9★ (55)
wp.org #10 ↓1 11 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833)
wp.org #16 ↓2 5 too low 12 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #17 ↑3 5 too low 13 
Groups – Memberships and Access Control 10K+ · 4.8★ (382)
wp.org #19 ↓1 6 too low 14 
JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs 10K+ · 4.4★ (74)
wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too high 15 WP Consent API 200K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #1 14 too high 16 
Restrict User Access – Ultimate Membership & Content Protection 10K+ · 4.3★ (94)
wp.org #13 ↓2 3 too high 17 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Contact Form to Any API 8K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #15 3 too high 19 
WPGet API – Connect to any external REST API 10K+ · 5.0★ (32)
wp.org #22 3 too low 20 
Disable XML-RPC-API 100K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too high 21 
Simple Page Access Restriction 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #21 22 
Custom API for WP 1K+ · 4.8★ (45)
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Datafeedr API 4K+ · 4.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #12 11 too high 24 R REST API Log 5K+ · 3.6★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑2 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.