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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “data collector”

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 “data collector”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

RobArt Text Collector shows at wp.org #3 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Query Monitor places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 470 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Plugins Garbage Collector (Database Cleanup) 10K+ · 4.4★ (92) wp.org #1 2 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3 Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 Lenix Leads Collector 10K+ · 4.4★ (25) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 NinjaScanner – Virus & Malware scan 40K+ · 4.0★ (36) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 Docket Cache – Object Cache Accelerator 20K+ · 4.9★ (50) wp.org #12 ↑5 6 too low 7 Element Pack Addons for Elementor – MCP & AI-Ready Elementor Widgets, Elementor Templates, Elementor Addons 100K+ · 4.7★ (284) wp.org #17 ↑1 10 too low 8 Query Monitor 200K+ · 4.9★ (470) wp.org #24 16 too low 9 annasta Filters for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (44) wp.org #10 1 too low 10 IdeaPush 700+ · 4.5★ (31) wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too high 11 WP Terms Popup – Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy WordPress Popups 3K+ · 4.8★ (15) wp.org #13 ↓2 2 too low 12 Recapture for Easy Digital Downloads 500+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #18 ↓2 6 too low 13 Min Max Step Quantity Limits Manager for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (51) wp.org #23 ↓2 10 too low 14 RobArt Text Collector 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 11 too high 15 Polski for WooCommerce 60+ · 4.8★ (10) wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too low 16 Recapture for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #20 4 too low 17 F Form Data Collector 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 11 too high 18 BaseCloud UTM Tracker 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too high 19 Wine Cellar Manager – From collector to sommelier: wine always in order 10+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑1 8 too high 20 Walley Checkout for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 ↓1 11 too high 21 Comic Collector — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 2 too high 22 Secure Login Collector — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 RobArt Colour Collector — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too high 24 Consent Collector JP — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↑1 2 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.