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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “basic auth”

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 “basic auth”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Simple REST API Authenticaton with WooCommerce Credentials shows at wp.org #8 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 60+ 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.

Buried gem

Easy Form Builder by WhiteStudio – Drag & Drop Form Builder places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 70 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Basic Authentication 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #1 2 MxChat – AI Chatbot & Content Generation for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (31) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 WPGet API – Connect to any external REST API 10K+ · 5.0★ (32) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 Staatic – Static Site Generator for WordPress 3K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Contact Form to Any API 8K+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 WP Webhooks – Automate repetitive tasks by creating powerful automation workflows directly within WordPress 20K+ · 4.7★ (55) wp.org #15 ↓2 9 too low 7 C Contact Form 7 to API 1K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 Easy Basic Authentication – Add basic auth to site or admin area 800+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #2 6 too high 9 WP API SwaggerUI 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #9 ↓1 10 JWT Authentication for WP REST API 60K+ · 4.4★ (53) wp.org #12 ↓3 2 too low 11 Easy Form Builder by WhiteStudio – Drag & Drop Form Builder 1K+ · 5.0★ (70) wp.org #23 ↑1 12 too low 12 JWT Authentication for WP REST APIs 10K+ · 4.4★ (74) wp.org #22 ↓1 10 too low 13 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #19 ↑3 6 too low 14 VigIA – AI Visibility, Analytics & Control 2K+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too low 15 Royal MCP – Secure AI Connector for Claude, ChatGPT & any LLM via MCP 10K+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too low 16 WebChange Detector: Visual Regression Testing & Visual Checks After Updates 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #11 5 too high 17 WPRaiz Content API Tool 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 ↓3 4 too high 18 Forms Bridge – Infinite integrations 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 Simple REST API Authenticaton with WooCommerce Credentials 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↓1 11 too high 20 Wapu Auth – Social Login for WordPress and WooCommerce 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 Connect WPForm to Any API 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↑2 11 too high 22 MIPL CRM/API Integration for Contact Form 7 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↑3 2 too high 23 API Press – External API data, Connect API, Import API 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓2 2 too high 24 SMTP for Contact Form 7 1K+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #24

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.