wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “category 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 “category grid”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 of the top 20. 8 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 #19 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 3K+ 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.
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #1 2 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Product Category Slider & Grid for WooCommerce – Reno Product Category 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #4 5 
Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 
Category Posts Block 40K+ · 4.5★ (79)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #8 ↓2 1 too low 8 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #7 ↑4 1 too high 9 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
Post Grid Addon for Elementor 10K+ · 4.9★ (76)
wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11 
AnWP Post Grid and Post Carousel Slider for Elementor 20K+ · 4.9★ (84)
wp.org #11 12 
Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too low 13 
Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid 20K+ · 4.7★ (353) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↓4 1 too high 14 
Blog Designer Pack – Blog, Post Grid, Post Slider, Post Carousel, Category Post, News 30K+ · 4.7★ (79)
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
WP Ultimate Post Grid 4K+ · 4.4★ (32) heavy footprint
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17 
Portfolio Grid – Filterable Gallery, Grid & Slider Showcase 800+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 
WP Media Category Management 6K+ · 4.7★ (35) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
Loop Grid Extender for Elementor – ACF Repeater & Smart Filters 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 3 too low 21 
Product Category Showcase for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Dynamic Product Category Grid, Slider for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 4 too high 23 
Flexi Post Grid 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Classic Blog Grid 3K+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
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.