wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “awards”
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 “awards”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 4 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
PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS shows at wp.org #7 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups places #11 on merit, 4.4★ from 859 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Site Reviews 60K+ · 4.9★ (376)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too high 4 
GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 ↑1 5 
Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514)
wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too low 6 
Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred 10K+ · 4.6★ (472) not PHP-current
wp.org #5 ↓2 1 too high 7 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Product Addons for Woocommerce – Product Options with Custom Fields 30K+ · 4.9★ (474)
wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too low 9 
SMTP2GO for WordPress – Email Made Easy 40K+ · 5.0★ (67)
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 
AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 6K+ · 4.8★ (202) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↑1 1 too low 11 Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups 80K+ · 4.4★ (859)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline) 20K+ · 4.7★ (333)
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 
Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution – Build Your Own Amazon, eBay, Etsy 30K+ · 4.6★ (769) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #23 ↑1 9 too low 15 
VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS 8K+ · 4.8★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↑6 1 too high 16 
Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
Product Labels For Woocommerce (Sale Badges) 10K+ · 4.6★ (54) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 18 
WP Courses LMS – Online Courses Builder, eLearning Courses, Courses Solution, Education Courses 500+ · 4.9★ (22) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 
Timeline Module for Divi 3K+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #19 20 PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑2 13 too high 21 
Simple Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create a Loyalty Program 400+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 22 
GamiPress – Block Users 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓3 2 too high 23 
Visual Bible Verse of the Day Widget 1K+ · 4.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 
myCred Addons – Ultimate myCred Modules To Support WordPress Gamification and Loyalty Rewards 400+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current 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.