wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “database tables”
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 tables”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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
SQLite Database Integration shows at wp.org #15 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.6★ average from 12 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 8708 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.
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (472)
wp.org #3 4 
Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair 10K+ · 5.0★ (150)
wp.org #4 5 
Database Addon for Contact Form 7 – CFDB7 600K+ · 5.0★ (1875)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions 60K+ · 4.7★ (181)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #9 ↓2 1 too low 9 
Data Tables Generator by Supsystic – Excel-like, WooCommerce & Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.7★ (497)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 
Database Reset 10K+ · 4.5★ (77)
wp.org #7 ↑2 3 too high 11 
Database Addon For WPForms ( wpforms entries ) – WPFormsDB 20K+ · 5.0★ (131)
wp.org #10 1 too high 12 UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #21 ↓2 9 too low 13 
WP Database Backup – Unlimited Database & Files Backup by Backup for WP 20K+ · 4.5★ (102)
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406)
wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 
Pricing Table WordPress Plugin – Easy Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.3★ (133)
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 
Index WP MySQL For Speed 50K+ · 4.8★ (99)
wp.org #17 ↑3 1 too low 17 
Make Tables Responsive 6K+ · 5.0★ (34)
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Plugins Garbage Collector (Database Cleanup) 10K+ · 4.4★ (92)
wp.org #19 ↓1 20 
Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 D Database Collation Fix 1K+ · 5.0★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #16 5 too high 22 S SQLite Database Integration 5K+ · 4.6★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 
Database for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 4.2★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too high 24 
CodingBunny Database Cleaner 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #22 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.