wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “content grid”
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 “content grid”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 of the top 20. 4 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
Flexi Post Grid shows at wp.org #15 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 200+ 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
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 612 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #1 2 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #2 3 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 4 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #4 5 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #5 6 
Post Grid Addon for Elementor 10K+ · 4.9★ (76)
wp.org #6 ↑2 7 
AnWP Post Grid and Post Carousel Slider for Elementor 20K+ · 4.9★ (84)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too low 9 
Product Category Slider & Grid for WooCommerce – Reno Product Category 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too high 10 
Responsive Gallery Grid 4K+ · 4.7★ (66)
wp.org #10 ↓1 11 
Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid 20K+ · 4.7★ (353) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↓4 12 Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #18 ↓4 6 too low 13 
Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements 400K+ · 4.9★ (5925) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 10 too low 14 
GenerateBlocks 200K+ · 4.9★ (122)
wp.org #21 7 too low 15 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 
WP Ultimate Post Grid 4K+ · 4.4★ (32) heavy footprint
wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 
Video Grid 1K+ · 4.4★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too high 18 
Portfolio Grid – Filterable Gallery, Grid & Slider Showcase 800+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
Grid Shortcodes 2K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too high 21 
Content Blocks Builder – Create blocks, repeater blocks with carousel, grid, popup layouts 1K+ · 5.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 3 too low 22 
Loop Grid Extender for Elementor – ACF Repeater & Smart Filters 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓3 23 Flexi Post Grid 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #15 8 too high 24 
Classic Blog Grid 3K+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 8 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.