wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “checks”
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 “checks”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
Block Accessibility Checks shows at wp.org #8 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 90+ 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
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 3220 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #2 3 
Contact Form 7 10M+ · 4.0★ (2186)
wp.org #3 4 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #4 ↑2 5 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #6 ↓2 1 too low 6 
Theme Check 20K+ · 4.8★ (195)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery with Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Brevo, Other SMTP & More 4M+ · 4.8★ (5209)
wp.org #13 ↑1 5 too low 9 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #19 ↑1 10 too low 10 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #17 ↓1 7 too low 11 
Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging 90K+ · 4.8★ (292) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too high 12 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too high 13 
Plugin Check (PCP) 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #9 ↓2 4 too high 14 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #20 5 too low 16 
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓3 17 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓5 5 too low 18 
WP24 Domain Check 4K+ · 4.3★ (32)
wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too high 19 
WebChange Detector: Visual Regression Testing & Visual Checks After Updates 300+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑3 12 too high 20 
Child Theme Check 700+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 
Plugins Condition & Site Check 1K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 22 
WP Spell Check 2K+ · 2.9★ (39) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 
WP ADA Compliance Check Basic 2K+ · 4.5★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓2 24 Block Accessibility Checks 90+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #8 16 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.