wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “customfields”

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 “customfields”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 9 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

Walley Checkout for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #7 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro places #1 on merit, 4.7★ from 96 reviews, but shows at wp.org #5. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (96) heavy footprint wp.org #5 4 too low 2 E Edit Custom Fields 2K+ · 4.8★ (16) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3

CustomFields.com – Fields & Content Builder — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #1 2 too high 4 L LJ-Moods 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 ↓1 2 too high 5

Selektable — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 1 too high 6 W WP Content Protection 60+ · 4.7★ (7) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 8 too low 7

ProSolution WP Client 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 ↑2 1 too high 8

Convert custom fields to custom taxonomies 10+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too low 9 P Post via Dropbox 10+ · 4.8★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 8 too low 10 D DeMomentSomTres Display Posts Shortcode 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too high 11

My Upload Images 400+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too low 12

MyVendorHub for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 3 too high 13

SUDS Planner — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 3 too high 14

Walley Checkout for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 ↓1 7 too high 15

Filter & Sorter 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too high 16

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.