wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “cookies”
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 “cookies”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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
Remove Cookies From Static Resources shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 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
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 8869 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
EU Cookies Bar for WordPress 9K+ · 4.8★ (26)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
TermsFeed AutoTerms: Privacy Policy Generator, Cookie Consent, GDPR, CCPA, Terms & Conditions, Disclaimers, Cookies Policy, EULA 70K+ · 4.7★ (246)
wp.org #8 ↑1 5 too low 4 
WPConsent – Cookie Banner & Cookie Consent for Privacy Compliance (GDPR / CCPA / EU Compliance Cookie Notice) 200K+ · 4.8★ (84)
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 
Cookies and Content Security Policy 10K+ · 4.9★ (67) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Asesor de Cookies RGPD para normativa europea 20K+ · 3.9★ (59)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too high 7 
CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
Cookie Compliance for WordPress – Cookie Consent, GDPR & CCPA 800K+ · 4.8★ (3026)
wp.org #14 ↓3 6 too low 9 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #16 ↑4 7 too low 10 
GDPR Cookie Compliance – Cookie Banner, Cookie Consent, Cookie Notice for CCPA, EU Cookie Law 300K+ · 4.6★ (205)
wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too low 11 
Flexible Cookies 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↓1 9 too high 12 
Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245)
wp.org #17 ↑2 5 too low 13 
User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238)
wp.org #19 ↑2 6 too low 14 
Real Cookie Banner: GDPR & ePrivacy Cookie Consent 100K+ · 4.9★ (492) not PHP-current
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167)
wp.org #22 7 too low 16 
Redirection 2M+ · 4.4★ (703)
wp.org #21 5 too low 17 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Advanced Editor Tools 1M+ · 4.5★ (354)
wp.org #24 ↓9 6 too low 19 
Show Me The Cookies 400+ · 4.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑1 12 too high 20 
Lawwwing | Textos legales web y Banner de cookies 700+ · 4.6★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑2 5 too high 21 
CookieAdmin – Cookie Consent Banner 400K+ · 5.0★ (4) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑8 11 too high 22 
Cookies, Terms & Conditions Consent Log 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 Remove Cookies From Static Resources 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑4 14 too high 24 
WP Consent API 200K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑3 11 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.