wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “auto redirect”
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 “auto redirect”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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.
Ranked above its merit
Auto Alt Text shows at wp.org #12 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 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.
301 Redirects – Redirect Manager 300K+ · 4.7★ (578)
wp.org #1 2 
WP 404 Auto Redirect to Similar Post 30K+ · 4.9★ (113)
wp.org #2 3 
Auto Upload Images 20K+ · 4.3★ (106)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Redirection for Contact Form 7 200K+ · 4.7★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too high 7 
WP2Social Auto Publish 9K+ · 4.8★ (640)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
All in One SEO – AI SEO Plugin to Boost SEO Rankings & Traffic (Schema, Local SEO, Sitemap & SEO Insights) 2M+ · 4.7★ (5231) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #8 9 
WP LinkedIn Auto Publish 8K+ · 4.8★ (106) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 3 too high 10 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 
Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates 8K+ · 4.9★ (405)
wp.org #16 4 too low 13 
Custom Permalinks 100K+ · 4.1★ (116)
wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too high 14 
WP Twitter Auto Publish 3K+ · 4.9★ (206)
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
Maintenance & Coming Soon Redirect Animation 3K+ · 5.0★ (34)
wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too high 16 
Social Media Auto Publish 5K+ · 4.7★ (345) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 Auto Alt Text 4K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #12 5 too high 18 
Auto Affiliate Links 2K+ · 4.1★ (39)
wp.org #20 2 too low 19 
After Login Redirect 1K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #14 5 too high 20 
Auto Delete Post – Ultimate plugin for deleting a post automatically 300+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 3 too low 21 
Smart Auto Upload Images – Import External Images 5K+ · 4.3★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 
Device-Based Redirect 300+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Auto Redirect 404 to Custom URL – 404 Redirect & Error Log 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 
DevDome Redirect Manager: Link Rotator, Geo Redirect & 302 Redirect 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 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.