wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “database information”
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 “database information”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20.
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
Database for Contact Form 7 shows at wp.org #7 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 2470 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.
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #1 2 
Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair 10K+ · 5.0★ (150)
wp.org #2 3 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #3 4 
Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions 60K+ · 4.7★ (181)
wp.org #4 5 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8709)
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
WP Database Backup – Unlimited Database & Files Backup by Backup for WP 20K+ · 4.5★ (102)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #13 ↑1 5 too low 9 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too low 10 WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #21 ↓1 11 too low 11 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 too low 13 
GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129)
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229)
wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
CF7 Apps – Addons for Contact Form 7 (Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, etc.) 300K+ · 3.8★ (135)
wp.org #10 ↓1 6 too high 17 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323)
wp.org #17 18 S SQLite Database Integration 5K+ · 4.6★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #6 12 too high 19 
Plugins Garbage Collector (Database Cleanup) 10K+ · 4.4★ (92)
wp.org #15 4 too high 20 
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 Database for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 4.2★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #7 14 too high 22 
CodingBunny Database Cleaner 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑1 13 too high 23 
Enable Database Tools 50+ · 4.6★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #23 24 
Website Information 20+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓4 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.