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

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 relationship”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 3 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

Cross Site Copy Field for ACF shows at wp.org #4 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 60+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 1962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Smartsupp – live chat, AI shopping assistant and chatbots 20K+ · 4.7★ (131) wp.org #1 ↑1 2

Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701) wp.org #2 ↑3 3

WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88) wp.org #3 ↑5 4

MetForm – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Conditional Forms, Form Templates & Custom Form Builder for Elementor 500K+ · 4.7★ (509) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5

WP Chat App 100K+ · 4.9★ (222) wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too low 6

Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612) wp.org #12 ↓2 6 too low 7

Sender – Newsletter, SMS and Email Marketing Automation for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.8★ (83) wp.org #9 ↓2 2 too low 8

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962) wp.org #20 ↓3 12 too low 9

Advanced Views – Display Framework – Gutenberg/Elementor/Shortcode 3K+ · 4.8★ (36) wp.org #8 ↑4 1 too high 10

Link Whisper Free 30K+ · 4.2★ (151) wp.org #11 1 too low 11

LiveChat – Live Chat Plugin for WP Websites 10K+ · 4.6★ (98) wp.org #14 3 too low 12

FunnelKit Automations – Email Marketing Automation and CRM for WordPress & WooCommerce 20K+ · 5.0★ (346) wp.org #22 ↓1 10 too low 13

WowRecommend – Show Recommendations, Related Products, Recently Viewed, and Cross-sells for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #7 6 too high 14

Advanced Dynamic Pricing and Discount Rules for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (123) wp.org #19 ↓1 5 too low 15

Mail Mint – Email Marketing, Automation & WooCommerce Emails with AI Assistance 4K+ · 4.7★ (125) wp.org #21 6 too low 16

ERP: Complete HR, Accounting & CRM Suite Built for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.4★ (149) not PHP-current wp.org #17 ↑2 1 too low 17

FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses 8K+ · 4.8★ (96) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #16 1 too high 18

Document Gallery 8K+ · 4.8★ (112) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 19

Charitable – Donation & Fundraising Platform (Donation Forms, Recurring Donations & Fundraising Campaigns) 10K+ · 4.9★ (219) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 5 too low 20

Dynamic ACF Repeater for Elementor 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #6 14 too high 21

Klaviyo 100K+ · 2.8★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #13 8 too high 22

CubeWP Framework 3K+ · 4.8★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23

Cross Site Copy Field for ACF 60+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 ↓1 19 too high 24

Lime Connect (formerly Userlike) – WordPress Live Chat plugin 800+ · 4.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #15 9 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.