wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “block template”
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 template”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
VK Block Patterns shows at wp.org #15 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100K+ 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.
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #1 2 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #2 3 
Starter Templates: AI-Powered Website Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 1M+ · 4.9★ (4755)
wp.org #3 4 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Show Current Template 100K+ · 5.0★ (71)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333)
wp.org #6 ↑3 1 too high 8 
Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks 1M+ · 4.7★ (1872)
wp.org #8 ↓1 9 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #9 ↓1 10 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #11 ↑5 1 too low 11 
Block Visibility — Conditional Visibility Control for the Block Editor 40K+ · 4.9★ (108)
wp.org #10 1 too high 12 
Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251)
wp.org #12 ↓1 13 
Gutenverse – WordPress Blocks, Page Builder & Site Editor 20K+ · 4.9★ (190)
wp.org #17 4 too low 14 
Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90)
wp.org #14 15 
Getwid – Gutenberg Blocks 50K+ · 4.7★ (115)
wp.org #18 3 too low 16 
Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page Builder for Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns 100K+ · 4.9★ (216)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor 80K+ · 4.5★ (48)
wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too high 18 
Mailonix – Email Template Customizer for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (105)
wp.org #22 ↓2 4 too low 19 
Spectra Blocks – AI Website Builder for the Block Editor 60K+ · 4.6★ (53)
wp.org #21 ↓9 2 too low 20 
SVG Block 4K+ · 5.0★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #13 7 too high 21 
Better Block Editor (BBE) 6K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 
Gmap Block 10K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓3 2 too low 23 VK Block Patterns 100K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 8 too high 24 
Blocks Starter Templates – Block Templates & Patterns 1K+ · 3.0★ (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.