wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom code”
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 code”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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
CodeKit – Custom Codes Editor shows at wp.org #7 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 16 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Simple Custom Post Order places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 587 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915)
wp.org #2 3 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 4 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #4 ↑1 5 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #9 ↓2 4 too low 6 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #6 ↑4 7 
Simple Custom CSS and JS 600K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 
Custom Permalinks 100K+ · 4.1★ (116)
wp.org #8 ↑4 1 too high 10 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309) not PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too low 11 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #13 ↑3 2 too low 12 
Head & Footer Code 100K+ · 5.0★ (51)
wp.org #12 ↑2 13 
Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar Classic Widget Area Manager 100K+ · 4.7★ (1028)
wp.org #22 9 too low 14 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too low 15 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
Secure Custom Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (69) heavy footprint
wp.org #15 ↓7 1 too high 17 
Post/Page Specific Custom Code 6K+ · 4.6★ (42)
wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too high 18 CodeKit – Custom Codes Editor 7K+ · 4.8★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑4 11 too high 19 
Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally 400K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #17 ↑2 2 too high 20 
Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58)
wp.org #18 ↑2 2 too high 21 
Custom Post Type Permalinks 200K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Kaya QR Code Generator 10K+ · 4.4★ (38)
wp.org #19 ↑5 3 too high 23 
Add Custom Codes – Insert Header, Footer, Custom PHP Snippets, CSS, Javascript 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 
Custom Code 100+ · 4.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #20 4 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.