wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “convert post”
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 “convert post”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 1M+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.7★ average from 81 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
EWWW Image Optimizer places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 1842 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #1 2 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #2 3 
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Post Type Switcher 200K+ · 4.8★ (255)
wp.org #5 6 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053)
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #13 ↑2 4 too low 10 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #10 11 EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842)
wp.org #22 11 too low 12 
Cyr-To-Lat 300K+ · 4.7★ (98)
wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 
Convert to Blocks 2K+ · 4.7★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #6 7 too high 14 
Contextual Related Posts 50K+ · 4.8★ (201)
wp.org #24 10 too low 15 P Posts 2 Posts 9K+ · 4.8★ (101)
wp.org #20 5 too low 16 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
Post Type Transfer 2K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #11 6 too high 18 
UiChemy – Convert Figma, Prompts and AI Builds to Elementor, Gutenberg and Bricks 8K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 
Australia Post WooCommerce Extension 3K+ · 4.4★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too high 20 
Event Post 1K+ · 4.3★ (35) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 
Bulk Convert Post Format 70+ · 4.4★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 7 too high 22 
eBook Crafter – Convert Posts to PDF eBooks, Ready to Print 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #16 6 too high 23 Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF 1M+ · 1.7★ (81) host-installed base
wp.org #9 14 too high 24 
Convert WPBakery to Elementor 500+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #18 6 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.