wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “database optimization”
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 optimization”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance shows at wp.org #7 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 500K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 30 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization places #12 on merit, 4.7★ from 640 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair 10K+ · 5.0★ (150)
wp.org #1 2 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions 60K+ · 4.7★ (181)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #6 7 
Super Page Cache – Cloudflare Cache, Page Speed & Core Web Vitals 70K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too low 8 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 900K+ · 4.3★ (1656)
wp.org #10 ↓2 11 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too high 12 Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization 200K+ · 4.7★ (640)
wp.org #17 5 too low 13 
Hummingbird Performance – Cache & Page Speed Optimization for Core Web Vitals | Critical CSS | Minify CSS | Defer CSS Javascript | CDN 70K+ · 4.7★ (1488)
wp.org #23 10 too low 14 
10Web Booster – Website speed optimization, Cache & Page Speed optimizer 60K+ · 4.6★ (405)
wp.org #18 4 too low 15 
WP Meteor Website Speed Optimization Addon 20K+ · 4.7★ (77)
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
All in One SEO – AI SEO Plugin to Boost SEO Rankings & Traffic (Schema, Local SEO, Sitemap & SEO Insights) 2M+ · 4.7★ (5231) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Powered Cache – Caching and Optimization for WordPress – Easily Improve PageSpeed & Web Vitals Score 3K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too high 18 SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #7 11 too high 19 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current
wp.org #22 3 too low 20 
WP Compress – Instant Performance & Speed Optimization 9K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
Breeze Cache 300K+ · 3.6★ (133)
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 
CF7 Apps – Addons for Contact Form 7 (Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, etc.) 300K+ · 3.8★ (135) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓2 7 too high 23 
Image Optimization For SEO 3K+ · 3.7★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 
CodingBunny Database Cleaner 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 11 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.