wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom post”
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 post”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 2 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
Custom Post Type Widgets shows at wp.org #11 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 
Custom Post Type Permalinks 200K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too high 8 
Simple Custom CSS and JS 600K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #8 ↑2 9 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #15 ↓6 6 too low 10 
Content Blocks (Custom Post Widget) 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #12 ↑1 2 too low 11 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #23 12 too low 12 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1237)
wp.org #22 10 too low 13 
Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158)
wp.org #17 ↑4 4 too low 14 
Custom Permalinks 100K+ · 4.1★ (116)
wp.org #13 ↑3 1 too high 15 
MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #7 8 too high 16 
Real Custom Post Order: Create a custom order for your content 8K+ · 4.8★ (42) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↑1 6 too high 17 
Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172)
wp.org #21 ↓2 4 too low 18 
Intuitive Custom Post Order 400K+ · 4.4★ (139)
wp.org #18 19 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #20 ↓3 1 too low 20 
Gravity Forms + Custom Post Types 10K+ · 4.4★ (46)
wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21 C Custom Post Type Widgets 10K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 10 too high 22 
Custom Post Types and Custom Fields creator – WCK 10K+ · 4.7★ (97) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 8 too high 23 
Custom Fonts – Host Your Fonts Locally 400K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #19 ↑4 4 too high 24 
Duplicate Post – duplicate pages, copy content, clone posts 5K+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.