wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “blog grid”
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 “blog grid”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
Classic Blog Grid shows at wp.org #1 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 1678 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.
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #3 ↑3 1 too low 3 
Blog Designer Pack – Blog, Post Grid, Post Slider, Post Carousel, Category Post, News 30K+ · 4.7★ (79)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 
Post Grid Addon for Elementor 10K+ · 4.9★ (76)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Post Grid Gutenberg Blocks – PostX 30K+ · 4.8★ (265) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓2 1 too high 8 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7308) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #8 9 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1678)
wp.org #18 ↑1 8 too low 11 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4122) not PHP-current
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 
WP Blog Post Layouts 9K+ · 4.7★ (83)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (209) heavy footprint
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2044)
wp.org #22 ↑2 7 too low 16 
The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (387)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Video Grid 1K+ · 4.4★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
YMC Filter 4K+ · 4.8★ (34)
wp.org #23 ↓2 5 too low 19 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #19 ↓1 20 Classic Blog Grid 4K+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 19 too high 21 
Blogmentor – Blog Layouts for Elementor 4K+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #16 5 too high 22 
Magazine Blocks – Blog Designer, Magazine & Newspaper Website Builder, Page Builder with Posts Blocks, Post Grid 6K+ · 4.9★ (9) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too high 23 
Fancy Post Grid – Ultimate Post Grid Builder 200+ · 5.0★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 3 too high 24 
Flexi Post Grid 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 12 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.