wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “column id”
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 “column id”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 2 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
Show IDs by Echo shows at wp.org #4 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 2K+ 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
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance places #6 on merit, 4.9★ from 1962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Reveal IDs 40K+ · 5.0★ (61)
wp.org #1 2 
Catch IDs 20K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #2 3 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #8 4 too low 5 
Multiple Columns for Gravity Forms 10K+ · 4.5★ (30) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #15 ↓3 9 too low 7 
Ultra Addons for Contact Form 7 60K+ · 4.8★ (107)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
Admin Columns for ACF Fields 9K+ · 4.9★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too high 10 P Page-list 30K+ · 4.7★ (89)
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #19 ↓1 8 too low 12 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #21 ↓1 9 too low 13 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107)
wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too low 14 
Video Gallery – YouTube Playlist, Channel Gallery by YotuWP 10K+ · 4.7★ (322)
wp.org #23 ↑1 9 too low 15 
GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑2 3 too high 16 
Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #20 ↓1 4 too low 17 
Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews 20K+ · 4.9★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓1 18 
Show IDs by DraftPress 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too high 19 
Export All URLs 50K+ · 4.6★ (94)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
Posts Table with Search & Sort 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑5 4 too high 21 
WPC Admin Columns 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #7 14 too high 22 
WP Last Login 10K+ · 3.8★ (26)
wp.org #22 23 Show IDs by Echo 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #4 19 too high 24 
Slug Search and Admin Columns 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #10 14 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.