wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “carousal”
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 “carousal”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 14. 3 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
Client Partner Showcase shows at wp.org #7 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar places #4 on merit, 4.5★ from 167 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Gallery with thumbnail slider 3K+ · 3.8★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 
Xpro Theme Builder For Elementor – FREE 20K+ · 5.0★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Free WooCommerce Products Slider/Carousel Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (17) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #9 5 too low 5 
Xpro Gallery For Beaver Builder – Lite 100+ · 4.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #5 6 
Passwords Manager 70+ · 5.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Bootstrap Flat File Slider 10+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 
Xpro Portfolio For Beaver Builder – Lite 60+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
Image Slider Slideshow 2K+ · 4.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #4 5 too high 10 
Whook content slider 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 M Master Kit 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 W WP Ad-Monetizer Lite 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 Client Partner Showcase 100+ · 1.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 6 too high 14 
Creta Testimonial Showcase 3K+ · 1.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #10 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.