wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “auto update cache”
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 update cache”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 6 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
The Cache Purger shows at wp.org #13 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Translate WordPress with GTranslate places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 4962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #1 2 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Super Page Cache – Cloudflare Cache, Page Speed & Core Web Vitals 70K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #4 5 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #5 6 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #6 ↑1 7 
WP2Social Auto Publish 9K+ · 4.8★ (640)
wp.org #12 ↑1 5 too low 8 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #18 9 too low 10 C Clear Cache for Me 40K+ · 4.8★ (29)
wp.org #8 ↓2 2 too high 11 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #17 6 too low 12 
WP REST Cache 10K+ · 4.9★ (42) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑1 5 too high 13 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
WP Twitter Auto Publish 3K+ · 4.9★ (206)
wp.org #22 8 too low 15 
atec Cache APCu 3K+ · 4.9★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 
Social Media Auto Publish 5K+ · 4.7★ (345) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
Auto Coupons for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 8 too high 18 
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #11 7 too high 19 
Cache Warmer 1K+ · 4.8★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #16 3 too high 20 
Auto Affiliate Links 2K+ · 4.1★ (39)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
Proxy Cache Purge 50K+ · 4.4★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 The Cache Purger 1K+ · 4.5★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 9 too high 23 
Clear Autoptimize Cache Automatically 4K+ · 4.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 4 too high 24 
Easy Auto Reload – Auto Refresh 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 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.