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

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 science”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 4 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

Advance Custom HTML – Show Off Code Snippets with Live Preview shows at wp.org #3 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.5★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

SQLite Object Cache places #10 on merit, 5.0★ from 51 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 Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #1 2 Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591) wp.org #2 3 Regenerate Thumbnails 1M+ · 4.6★ (396) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Quiz Cat – WordPress Quiz Plugin 4K+ · 4.7★ (35) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 PowerPress Podcasting plugin by Blubrry 20K+ · 4.6★ (231) wp.org #10 4 too low 7 Index WP MySQL For Speed 50K+ · 4.8★ (99) wp.org #13 ↑1 6 too low 8 Custom Contact Forms 6K+ · 3.5★ (171) wp.org #15 7 too low 9 Social Rocket – Social Sharing Plugin 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #7 2 too high 10 SQLite Object Cache 10K+ · 5.0★ (51) wp.org #24 14 too low 11 Quill Forms | Conversational Multi Step Forms, Surveys & quizzes 3K+ · 4.8★ (44) wp.org #21 10 too low 12 Dynamic Product Gallery for WooCommerce 1K+ · 3.1★ (37) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too low 13 Jetpack Stats 900+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 8 too high 14 Ultimate Loan & Mortgage Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #16 2 too low 15 Advance Custom HTML – Show Off Code Snippets with Live Preview 10K+ · 2.5★ (4) wp.org #3 12 too high 16 Static Site Exporter 400+ · 3.5★ (12) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 HAL 600+ · 3.5★ (4) wp.org #9 8 too high 18 CJ Network Integration 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 6 too high 19 WP Pregnancy & Ovulation Calculator 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 4 too low 20 Scrollchart 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 9 too high 21 Mon Laboratoire 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 Scientific and Interactive Blocks – inseri core 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 3 too high 23 TrafficGuard PPC Fraud Prevention 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Page Visit Counter Analytics – Website Statistics & Google Analytics Alternative for WordPress 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 6 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.