wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “application performance”
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 performance”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Image Prioritizer shows at wp.org #8 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 40K+ 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.
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #1 2 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #6 ↑2 2 too low 5 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #7 ↓2 2 too low 6 
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #2 4 too high 7 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #5 ↑2 2 too high 8 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #9 ↑2 1 too low 9 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too low 10 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833)
wp.org #12 ↓3 2 too low 11 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323)
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220)
wp.org #15 ↑5 3 too low 13 
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701)
wp.org #23 10 too low 14 
Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (808)
wp.org #21 ↓5 7 too low 15 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 
Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Modern Image Formats 100K+ · 3.6★ (26)
wp.org #11 ↓1 6 too high 18 
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #22 ↑2 4 too low 19 
Code Profiler – WordPress Performance Profiling and Debugging Made Easy 8K+ · 4.3★ (36)
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too high 20 
JobWP – Job Board Plugin for WordPress | Job Listings, Career Page & Applications 1K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too high 21 
DiveWP – Boost Site Performance with Clear, Actionable Steps 200+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #13 8 too high 22 
Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks 2K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too high 23 Image Prioritizer 40K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓2 15 too high 24 
Performance & Security 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
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.