wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “customizr”
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 “customizr”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 5 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
OptiCache shows at wp.org #7 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 10+ 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.
Dark Mode – Improve Accessibility with AI Powered Dark Theme 20K+ · 4.5★ (391)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Remove "Powered by WordPress" 20K+ · 4.4★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Smart Custom 404 Error Page 100K+ · 4.9★ (1197)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Easy Custom Auto Excerpt 6K+ · 4.5★ (151) closure risk stale but ranked
wp.org #4 5 
My Sticky Bar – Floating Notification Bar & Sticky Header (formerly myStickymenu) 100K+ · 4.9★ (1199)
wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 
Darkify – Dark Mode & Night Mode for Website & Admin (Dark Theme Included) 1K+ · 4.7★ (27)
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
WP Image Zoom 10K+ · 4.3★ (119)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Additional Variation Images Gallery for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (162)
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9 
Mooberry Book Manager 1K+ · 4.6★ (46)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 C Childify Me 8K+ · 4.6★ (32)
wp.org #12 2 too low 11 
WebinarPress – Webinar System for WordPress 800+ · 4.1★ (40)
wp.org #13 2 too low 12 L LowerMedia Sticky.js Menus 100+ · 4.9★ (12) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 8 too low 13 OptiCache 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 6 too high 14 C Customizr Addons 50+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 4 too high 15 
Shortcodes – Advanced Shortcode Manager 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 C colorizer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
Back To The Theme 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too high 18 
Post Type Slider for Customizr 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 1 too low 19 
Sorry AdBlocker 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too low 20 
Youtube Customizr 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too high 21 
Admidio Events 30+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too low 22 
ChiliForms 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 4 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.