wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “cache images”
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 “cache images”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Aruba HiSpeed Cache shows at wp.org #8 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 10 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery places #8 on merit, 4.7★ from 616 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #1 2 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229)
wp.org #2 3 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #3 4 
Super Page Cache – Cloudflare Cache, Page Speed & Core Web Vitals 70K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #6 7 
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053)
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #13 ↑2 5 too low 9 
EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1843)
wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10 
Cache Enabler 100K+ · 4.3★ (139)
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 
Breeze Cache 300K+ · 3.6★ (133)
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 
Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1657)
wp.org #15 ↓3 3 too low 13 
FooGallery Photo Gallery : Image, Video & Masonry Galleries 100K+ · 4.8★ (995)
wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 
Powered Cache – Caching and Optimization for WordPress – Easily Improve PageSpeed & Web Vitals Score 3K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #11 ↑3 4 too high 16 
Quick Featured Images 50K+ · 4.7★ (235)
wp.org #18 ↑1 2 too low 17 
TinyPNG Image Optimization – Image Compression JPEG & PNG | Convert to WebP & AVIF 100K+ · 4.5★ (181)
wp.org #17 ↑1 18 
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #22 ↑1 4 too low 19 
No Right Click Images 20K+ · 4.7★ (52)
wp.org #16 3 too high 20 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #14 ↓1 7 too high 22 
Cache Warmer 1K+ · 4.8★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23 Aruba HiSpeed Cache 100K+ · 3.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #8 15 too high 24 
WPGraphQL Smart Cache 5K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓2 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.