wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom headers”
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 headers”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally shows at wp.org #12 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 400K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.3★ average from 62 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar Classic Widget Area Manager places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 1028 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1916)
wp.org #1 2 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440)
wp.org #2 3 
HTTP Headers 40K+ · 4.3★ (70)
wp.org #3 ↑4 4 U Unique Headers 10K+ · 4.9★ (160)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #7 ↑1 2 too low 6 
Insert Headers And Footers 200K+ · 5.0★ (135)
wp.org #6 7 
Simple Custom CSS and JS 600K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too high 8 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #8 ↑2 9 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too low 10 Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar Classic Widget Area Manager 100K+ · 4.7★ (1028)
wp.org #15 ↑5 5 too low 11 
Custom Permalinks 100K+ · 4.1★ (116)
wp.org #9 ↑3 2 too high 12 
Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.9★ (79)
wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too high 13 
ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117)
wp.org #13 14 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309)
wp.org #16 ↑2 2 too low 15 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #20 5 too low 16 
Sticky Menu & Sticky Header 90K+ · 4.7★ (763)
wp.org #24 ↓3 8 too low 17 
Secure Custom Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (69)
wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too high 18 Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally 400K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #12 ↑3 6 too high 19 
Sticky Header Effects for Elementor 300K+ · 4.5★ (69)
wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too high 20 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #17 3 too high 21 
Skyboot Custom Icons for Elementor – Elementor Icons library – 14300+ Icons 200K+ · 5.0★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25)
wp.org #23 ↓9 1 too low 23 
Insert Headers and Footers Code – HT Script 7K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑3 4 too high 24 A Add Custom Header Images 400+ · 4.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑3 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.