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

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 “consolidate”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

Touch Slider for Elementor shows at wp.org #8 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 100+ 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

Social Login places #10 on merit, 4.3★ from 366 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Better Search Replace 1M+ · 4.3★ (546) wp.org #1 2 All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676) wp.org #2 3 The GDPR Framework By Data443 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Order Splitter for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.7★ (70) wp.org #6 ↑3 2 too low 5 Business Hours Indicator 7K+ · 4.9★ (60) wp.org #11 ↓1 6 too low 6 WiserReview Product Reviews for WooCommerce 900+ · 5.0★ (34) wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too low 7 Ultimate Order Combination 300+ · 3.8★ (9) wp.org #3 4 too high 8 Putler – Simple WooCommerce Analytics for your Store 200+ · 5.0★ (15) wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9 Media Tracker – Track Unused, Duplicate & Used Media 1K+ · 4.2★ (9) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 Social Login 4K+ · 4.3★ (366) wp.org #23 13 too low 11 WP Helper Premium 1K+ · 3.6★ (8) wp.org #14 ↑2 3 too low 12 Import entries for Gravity Forms 600+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #7 ↓1 5 too high 13 Admin Menus Fixed 100+ · 4.3★ (3) wp.org #12 1 too high 14 Touch Slider for Elementor 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↓1 6 too high 15 UltimaKit – Admin Enhancements, Security, Optimization & Site Tweaks 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 ↑1 7 too low 16 Cubixsol Multi AI Image Generator 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 3 too high 17 Splash Sync 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↑2 18 LGPD Framework By Data443 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↑3 19 GreenRope Analytics 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↑1 20 Form Submission Email Reports 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↑2 5 too high 21 Transfer Brands for WooCommerce 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↑2 5 too high 22 Elfsight Testimonials Slider 300+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↑3 1 too high 23 Rich Taxonomy 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Diagnostic Glance 50+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↑2 4 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.