wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom types”
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 types”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Essential Content Types shows at wp.org #15 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.7★ average from 3 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 #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #1 2 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #2 3 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #3 4 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440) heavy footprint
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Simple Custom CSS and JS 600K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #5 ↑2 2 too high 8 
Custom Post Type Permalinks 200K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #8 9 
Custom Permalinks 100K+ · 4.1★ (116)
wp.org #9 10 Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar Classic Widget Area Manager 100K+ · 4.7★ (1028)
wp.org #21 11 too low 11 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1916)
wp.org #19 8 too low 12 
ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117)
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 
Product Addons for Woocommerce – Product Options with Custom Fields 30K+ · 4.9★ (474)
wp.org #24 11 too low 14 
Custom Post Types and Custom Fields creator – WCK 10K+ · 4.7★ (97) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 4 too high 15 
Gravity Forms + Custom Post Types 10K+ · 4.4★ (46)
wp.org #12 3 too high 16 
Secure Custom Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (69) heavy footprint
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
File Upload Types by WPForms 40K+ · 4.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #11 6 too high 18 
MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 C Custom Post Type Widgets 10K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #16 3 too high 20 
Skyboot Custom Icons for Elementor – Elementor Icons library – 14300+ Icons 200K+ · 5.0★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 B BuddyPress Xprofile Custom Field Types 3K+ · 4.9★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 
Post Types Unlimited 10K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 
Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 24 Essential Content Types 20K+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #15 9 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.