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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “checklists”

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 “checklists”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 of the top 20. 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

Ellie’s Checklist shows at wp.org #3 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 18 places. Its 60+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Media Library Assistant places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 202 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 PublishPress Checklists: Pre-Publishing Approval Checklist – Validate Post Requirements 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #1 2 All in One SEO – AI SEO Plugin to Boost SEO Rankings & Traffic (Schema, Local SEO, Sitemap & SEO Insights) 2M+ · 4.7★ (5231) wp.org #2 3 Cookiebot – Cookie Banner & Cookie Consent for GDPR, CCPA & Google Consent Mode 100K+ · 4.4★ (440) wp.org #7 ↓3 4 too low 4 CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236) wp.org #9 ↑2 5 too low 5 Real Cookie Banner: GDPR & ePrivacy Cookie Consent 100K+ · 4.9★ (492) wp.org #8 ↑12 3 too low 6 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #10 ↓2 4 too low 7 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #4 ↑3 3 too high 8 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #14 6 too low 9 Theme Check 20K+ · 4.8★ (195) wp.org #13 4 too low 10 Pre-Publish Checklist 1K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #5 5 too high 11 Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172) wp.org #17 ↓8 6 too low 12 Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202) wp.org #21 9 too low 13 WPMR Google Feed Manager for WooCommerce – Sell on Google Merchant Center & Shopping 10K+ · 4.5★ (127) wp.org #12 1 too high 14 GAinWP Google Analytics Integration for WP 7K+ · 4.8★ (126) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 M Multiple Roles 5K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too high 16 Co-Authors, Multiple Authors and Guest Authors in an Author Box with PublishPress Authors 20K+ · 4.9★ (114) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too low 17 Checklist Opquast Qualité Web 100+ · 4.5★ (4) wp.org #6 11 too high 18 Accessibility Tools & Alt Text Finder 3K+ · 4.9★ (69) wp.org #24 ↓2 6 too low 19 Hide Posts 20K+ · 4.7★ (22) wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too high 20 Create 6K+ · 4.3★ (25) wp.org #23 ↓4 3 too low 21 Ellie’s Checklist 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 18 too high 22 Dynamic Tags for Elementor 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #15 7 too high 23 Snow Monkey Blocks 30K+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24 WP Guardian – Security Hardening Checklist & Lightweight Firewall 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 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.