wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “change log”

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 “change log”, 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 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

Bulk Datetime Change shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 321 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74) wp.org #1 2

WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490) wp.org #2 3

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #3 4

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #4 5

Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172) wp.org #6 1 too low 6

Email Log 80K+ · 4.2★ (43) wp.org #5 1 too high 7

Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528) wp.org #12 ↑1 5 too low 8 E Error Log Monitor 20K+ · 4.3★ (48) wp.org #8 9

Debug Log Manager – Conveniently Monitor and Inspect Errors 10K+ · 5.0★ (25) wp.org #9 10

Simple Login Log 5K+ · 4.5★ (27) wp.org #7 3 too high 11

404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring 100K+ · 4.7★ (321) wp.org #17 ↓1 6 too low 12

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #14 2 too low 13

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #24 10 too low 15

Stream – Activity Log & Audit Trail 70K+ · 4.3★ (76) wp.org #18 3 too low 16

Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging 90K+ · 4.8★ (292) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #20 ↓1 4 too low 17

Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor 400+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too high 18

Debug Log Manager Tool 3K+ · 5.0★ (22) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #11 7 too high 19

Bulk Datetime Change 6K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #10 9 too high 20

All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35) wp.org #15 5 too high 21

Change Quantity on Checkout for WooCommerce 4K+ · 5.0★ (52) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22

Error Log Viewer by BestWebSoft 5K+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓2 4 too high 24

Admin login URL Change 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓2 8 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.