wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom post fields”
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 fields”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Smart Custom Fields shows at wp.org #13 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 50K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 21 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Post Views Counter places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1236 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. 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) heavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #2 3 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too high 5 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Secure Custom Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (69) heavy footprint
wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too high 7 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #7 ↓1 8 
Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #8 9 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Product Addons for Woocommerce – Product Options with Custom Fields 30K+ · 4.9★ (474)
wp.org #15 ↑1 5 too low 11 
Advanced Custom Fields: Font Awesome Field 90K+ · 4.9★ (36)
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1236)
wp.org #21 9 too low 13 
Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973)
wp.org #22 ↓4 9 too low 14 
Custom Permalinks 100K+ · 4.1★ (116)
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 
Advanced Product Fields (Product Addons) for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.8★ (284)
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too low 16 
Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172)
wp.org #16 ↓1 17 
Custom Post Types and Custom Fields creator – WCK 10K+ · 4.7★ (97) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 7 too high 18 
Content Blocks (Custom Post Widget) 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too low 19 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #19 ↑1 20 
Advanced Custom Fields: Extended 100K+ · 4.8★ (132)
wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 S Smart Custom Fields 50K+ · 4.9★ (21) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #13 8 too high 22 
MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #14 8 too high 23 
Custom Field Template 30K+ · 4.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #17 6 too high 24 
Custom Fields for Gutenberg 1K+ · 4.9★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 1 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.