wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “cross linking”

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 “cross linking”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 5 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

Device-Based Redirect shows at wp.org #9 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 348 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Internal Link Juicer: SEO Auto Linker for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (537) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too low 2

Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3

Terms descriptions 1K+ · 4.9★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #1 2 too high 4

SEOPress – AI SEO Plugin & On-site SEO 300K+ · 4.8★ (1267) wp.org #7 ↓5 3 too low 5

Affiliate Program Suite — SliceWP Affiliates 10K+ · 4.9★ (111) wp.org #5 ↑2 6

CM Tooltip Glossary 7K+ · 4.3★ (157) wp.org #4 ↑2 2 too high 7

Link Whisper Free 30K+ · 4.2★ (150) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too high 8

Nextend Social Login and Register 200K+ · 4.9★ (446) wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too low 9

Master Slider – Responsive Touch Slider 60K+ · 4.6★ (504) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 1 too high 10

Hubbub Lite – Fast, free social sharing and follow buttons 30K+ · 4.7★ (173) wp.org #16 ↓2 6 too low 11

Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348) wp.org #22 10 too low 13

WP w3all phpBB 200+ · 4.7★ (31) wp.org #11 ↓2 2 too high 14

AMP for WP – Accelerated Mobile Pages 70K+ · 4.4★ (1319) heavy footprint wp.org #24 ↓1 10 too low 15

HTML5 Audio Player – The Ultimate No-Code Podcast, MP3 & Audio Player 10K+ · 4.6★ (169) not PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓5 3 too low 16

Zotpress 2K+ · 4.9★ (66) wp.org #21 ↓1 5 too low 17

WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #12 ↑4 5 too high 18

Kwayy HTML Sitemap 6K+ · 4.7★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #13 ↑2 5 too high 19

Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #15 4 too high 20

Device-Based Redirect 300+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↑1 11 too high 21

Cross-Sell with Discounts for WooCommerce – Upsells, Related Products & Cart Offers — · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too high 22

ATmosphere 300+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓2 8 too high 23

Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme 80K+ · 2.1★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too high 24

DominoPost – Advanced Post Editor with AI Writer, Link Building Suite, Free Google Search Console & GA4 Analytics 100+ · 5.0★ (1) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 1 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.