wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “configurable”
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 “configurable”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 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
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… shows at wp.org #6 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #2 3 
Maintenance 1M+ · 4.4★ (869)
wp.org #3 ↑2 4 
Loco Translate 1M+ · 4.8★ (453)
wp.org #4 5 
Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #5 6 
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406)
wp.org #8 ↓2 2 too low 7 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #9 ↓6 2 too low 8 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too high 9 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #11 ↑2 2 too low 10 
Easy Social Feed – All In One Social Feed Plugin for WordPress 30K+ · 4.6★ (502)
wp.org #13 ↑4 3 too low 11 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑1 5 too high 12 
Redirection 2M+ · 4.4★ (703)
wp.org #10 ↑2 2 too high 13 
Disable Gutenberg 500K+ · 5.0★ (735)
wp.org #15 ↓5 2 too low 14 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes 200K+ · 4.7★ (326)
wp.org #16 ↑5 1 too low 16 
Breadcrumb NavXT 800K+ · 4.6★ (132)
wp.org #14 ↓5 2 too high 17 
Image Watermark 40K+ · 4.2★ (298)
wp.org #19 ↓3 2 too low 18 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #18 19 
Qi Addons For Elementor 200K+ · 4.8★ (205)
wp.org #24 ↓2 5 too low 20 
Latest Post Shortcode 4K+ · 4.8★ (46)
wp.org #17 ↓6 3 too high 21 
WebberZone Top 10 — Popular Posts 10K+ · 4.6★ (102)
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 W WP Photo Album Plus 10K+ · 4.7★ (199) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too high 23 
Shipping Simulator for WooCommerce 6K+ · 5.0★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 3 too high 24 
Qi Blocks 60K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓4 2 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.