wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “back button widget”
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 “back button widget”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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
Button Block – Stylish buttons that get more clicks shows at wp.org #6 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Maps Widget for Google Maps places #10 on merit, 4.6★ from 512 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.
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #3 2 too low 2 
Back Button Widget 4K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 
Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↑3 2 too high 5 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #7 ↑4 1 too low 7 
WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144)
wp.org #8 ↑8 1 too low 8 
Black Studio TinyMCE Widget 200K+ · 4.8★ (191)
wp.org #12 ↓3 4 too low 9 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #16 ↓3 7 too low 10 Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #18 8 too low 11 
Chat Button & Custom ChatGPT-Powered Bot by GetButton.io 20K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 
Buttonizer – Floating Menus, Sticky Buttons, & Popup Builder 70K+ · 4.5★ (151) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓2 3 too high 13 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #17 ↓5 3 too low 15 
Buttonizer – Social Media Share Buttons, Social Icons, & Social Feeds 40K+ · 4.8★ (396) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 16 
Content Blocks (Custom Post Widget) 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #22 ↑1 6 too low 17 Button Block – Stylish buttons that get more clicks 5K+ · 5.0★ (7) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 11 too high 18 
HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 
Buttonizer – Live Chat, AI Chatbot, Call, Chat, Contact Button 50K+ · 5.0★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓2 9 too high 20 
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 9 too high 21 
Weblizar Pin It Button On Image Hover And Post 10K+ · 4.0★ (64)
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
WP Telegram Widget and Join Link 4K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Bazz CallBack widget 3K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #20 ↑2 3 too high 24 
Back and Forward Button 200+ · 3.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑4 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.