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

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 “append”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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 it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

P

Ranked above its merit

Page Optimize shows at wp.org #3 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 200K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 215 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195) wp.org #1 2 PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322) wp.org #2 3 Easy Auto SKU Generator for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.9★ (272) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 PW WooCommerce Bulk Edit 20K+ · 4.9★ (238) wp.org #4 5 Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard 30K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #5 6 Image Regenerate & Select Crop 7K+ · 4.7★ (58) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Country State City Dropdown CF7 5K+ · 4.9★ (30) wp.org #11 4 too low 8 A Attachments 8K+ · 4.8★ (53) wp.org #13 ↓1 5 too low 9 Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215) wp.org #21 12 too low 10 WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars 10K+ · 4.2★ (22) wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11 Redirection for Contact Form 7 200K+ · 4.7★ (275) wp.org #15 4 too low 12 Head & Footer Code 100K+ · 5.0★ (51) wp.org #19 7 too low 13 Plus WebP or AVIF 5K+ · 4.6★ (26) wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 Books Gallery – Book Showcase, Library & Affiliate Plugin 2K+ · 4.8★ (92) wp.org #24 ↓1 10 too low 15 Controls for Contact Form 7 (Redirects, Analytics & Tracking) 10K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #14 1 too high 16 Cachebuster 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #8 8 too high 17 Mobile Call Now & Map Buttons 4K+ · 4.9★ (18) wp.org #10 ↓1 7 too high 18 K KIA Subtitle 7K+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #20 ↓2 2 too low 19 Autover 800+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #16 ↓2 3 too high 20 Menu In Post 2K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too high 21 MJDD Sidrena Cijena 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #23 ↓1 2 too low 22 P Page Optimize 200K+ · 3.0★ (5) wp.org #3 19 too high 23 Anchor Episodes Index (Spotify for Podcasters) 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 M Minimal Maintenance Mode 900+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓1 7 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.