wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “application box”
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 “application box”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20.
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
Profile Box Shortcode And Widget shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.7★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #1 2 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #2 3 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (398)
wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too low 7 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874)
wp.org #15 ↓8 8 too low 8 
ApplyOnline – Application Form Builder and Manager 2K+ · 4.1★ (40)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (200)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #7 ↑5 3 too high 11 
JobWP – Job Board Plugin for WordPress | Job Listings, Career Page & Applications 1K+ · 5.0★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (808)
wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too low 13 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #18 5 too low 14 
Formidable Forms – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder 300K+ · 4.8★ (1388)
wp.org #21 ↓2 7 too low 15 
Social Chat – Click To Chat App Button 200K+ · 4.9★ (696)
wp.org #20 ↓5 5 too low 16 
Simple Job Board 10K+ · 4.7★ (133)
wp.org #16 17 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #17 ↑1 18 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
HireZoot – Job Listings, Career Page & Recruitment Tool 30K+ · 4.8★ (194)
wp.org #23 ↓2 3 too low 21 
Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131)
wp.org #19 ↓2 2 too high 22 
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237)
wp.org #11 ↓1 11 too high 23 Profile Box Shortcode And Widget 1K+ · 3.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 14 too high 24 
Financial Calculator 400+ · 3.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 11 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.