wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “collection points”

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 “collection points”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20.

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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Backup Migration places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1338 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create Loyalty Programs, Reward Customer Purchases, Referral Points, User Badges, and Gamification 6K+ · 4.5★ (180) wp.org #1 2

WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346) wp.org #2 3

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) wp.org #5 2 too low 4

Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #3 1 too high 5

Shipping Live Rates and Access Points for UPS for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.7★ (77) wp.org #4 1 too high 6

Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641) wp.org #6 7

SimpLy Gallery 40K+ · 4.8★ (118) wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too low 8

Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too low 9

Photonic Gallery & Lightbox for Flickr, SmugMug & Others 10K+ · 4.8★ (193) wp.org #12 ↑10 3 too low 10

CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236) wp.org #15 ↑1 5 too low 11

Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #17 6 too low 12

Backup Migration 80K+ · 4.9★ (1338) wp.org #19 ↑1 7 too low 13

Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) wp.org #13 14

Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418) wp.org #23 9 too low 15

UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183) wp.org #20 ↓2 5 too low 16

bBlocks – Essential Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns Collection 700+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #7 10 too high 18

Performance Lab 100K+ · 4.3★ (51) wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19

Waymark 900+ · 5.0★ (54) wp.org #21 ↓8 2 too low 20

CBX Bookmark & Favorite 1K+ · 4.6★ (49) wp.org #18 2 too high 21

Kadence Starter Templates — Predesigned Website Templates 200K+ · 4.3★ (19) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22

Ultimate Store Kit – Store Builder Addons for Elementor, WooCommerce Store Builder, EDD Store Builder 3K+ · 4.5★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #24 2 too low 23

RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓1 12 too high 24

Qapla' Pickup Points 90+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑2 10 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.