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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “block controls”

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 “block controls”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

TZM Responsive Block Controls shows at wp.org #6 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 100+ 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

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder places #12 on merit, 4.5★ from 7323 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls, Block Visibility, Block Permissions 20K+ · 4.7★ (204) wp.org #1 2 Block Visibility — Conditional Visibility Control for the Block Editor 40K+ · 4.9★ (108) wp.org #2 3 Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) wp.org #3 4 Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821) wp.org #9 ↑1 5 too low 5 IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 The Icon Block 40K+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Carousel Slider Block for Gutenberg 50K+ · 4.8★ (59) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ · 5.0★ (88) wp.org #13 ↑3 5 too low 9 Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) wp.org #17 ↓3 7 too low 11 WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too low 12 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #22 10 too low 13 Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page Builder for Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns 100K+ · 4.9★ (216) wp.org #24 ↓1 11 too low 14 Flexible Table Block 40K+ · 4.9★ (34) wp.org #18 ↑3 4 too low 15 SVG Block 4K+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #11 ↑3 4 too high 16 Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90) wp.org #21 5 too low 17 Block Manager 4K+ · 4.9★ (13) wp.org #15 ↑2 2 too high 18 Better Block Editor (BBE) 6K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #16 ↑2 2 too high 19 Visibility Controls for Editor Blocks 900+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #7 12 too high 20 Button Block – Stylish buttons that get more clicks 5K+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #23 ↑1 3 too low 21 TZM Responsive Block Controls 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 15 too high 22 Block Control 80+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23 VK Block Patterns 100K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↑1 13 too high 24 Gmap Block 10K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 5 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.