wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom button block”
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 “custom button block”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Button Block – Stylish buttons that get more clicks shows at wp.org #3 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE places #12 on merit, 4.7★ from 251 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440)
wp.org #1 2 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #2 3 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Simple Custom CSS and JS 600K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #5 ↑4 1 too high 7 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #8 ↓3 1 too low 8 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too low 9 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 
Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks 1M+ · 4.7★ (1872)
wp.org #10 ↓2 11 Button Block – Stylish buttons that get more clicks 5K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #3 8 too high 12 Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251)
wp.org #17 5 too low 13 
Carousel Slider Block for Gutenberg 50K+ · 4.8★ (59)
wp.org #14 1 too low 14 
Block Visibility — Conditional Visibility Control for the Block Editor 40K+ · 4.9★ (108)
wp.org #18 4 too low 15 
Secure Custom Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (69)
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
Content Blocks (Custom Post Widget) 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #20 4 too low 17 
Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally 400K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
Meta Field Block – Display Custom Fields for ACF, Meta Box and More 10K+ · 5.0★ (57)
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90)
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
Custom HTML Block Extension 7K+ · 5.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #12 8 too high 21 
Flexible Table Block 40K+ · 4.9★ (34)
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
SVG Block 4K+ · 5.0★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 
Button Generator – Easily Create Custom Buttons with Icons and Analytics 4K+ · 4.3★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24 
VK Block Patterns 100K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #19 5 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.