wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “creative coding”
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 “creative coding”, 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
Easy p5.js Block shows at wp.org #4 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 19 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
Envira Gallery – Image Photo Gallery, Albums, Video Gallery, Slideshows & More places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 1597 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #2 ↑2 3 
Contact Form Generator : Creative form builder for WordPress 700+ · 4.4★ (67)
wp.org #3 4 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #9 ↑3 3 too low 7 
Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page Builder for Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns 100K+ · 4.9★ (216)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Kirki – Freeform Page Builder, Website Builder & Customizer 400K+ · 4.5★ (81)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Fonts Plugin | Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts & Upload Fonts 200K+ · 5.0★ (1221)
wp.org #12 ↑2 3 too low 10 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #10 ↑1 11 Envira Gallery – Image Photo Gallery, Albums, Video Gallery, Slideshows & More 100K+ · 4.7★ (1597)
wp.org #19 ↓10 8 too low 12 
Matomo Analytics – Powerful, Privacy-First Insights for WordPress 100K+ · 4.6★ (178)
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 
Qi Addons For Elementor 200K+ · 4.8★ (205)
wp.org #18 ↑2 5 too low 14 
Image Hover Effects Ultimate ( Image Gallery, Effects, Lightbox, Comparison & Magnifier ) 10K+ · 4.7★ (250)
wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 
HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489)
wp.org #22 ↓6 7 too low 16 
Supreme Modules Lite – Divi Theme, Extra Theme and Divi Builder 100K+ · 4.8★ (109)
wp.org #23 ↓6 7 too low 17 
WPSyncSheets For WooCommerce – Import & Export Orders, Products, Customers & Coupons to Google Sheets in Real-Time 700+ · 5.0★ (27)
wp.org #16 ↑7 1 too high 18 
Layouts for Elementor 1K+ · 4.7★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 
Inavii Social Feed – Live Social Proof Gallery 9K+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 2 too high 20 
Connect Elementor Forms to Google Sheets Addon 700+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 9 too high 21 
Radius Portfolio – Filterable Grid, Gallery & Slider Portfolio 7K+ · 4.6★ (38)
wp.org #24 ↓5 3 too low 22 
SKT Templates – 100% Free Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 20K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 8 too high 23 Easy p5.js Block 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #4 19 too high 24 
WPSyncSheets For Gravity Forms – Connect Gravity Forms to Google Sheets 200+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 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.