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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “device identity”

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 “device identity”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

CookieAdmin – Cookie Consent Banner shows at wp.org #7 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 400K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

miniOrange 2FA – Two Factor Authentication for WordPress (OTP, SMS, Email, Google Authenticator) places #10 on merit, 4.5★ from 385 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #1 2 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #6 ↑3 3 too low 4 Identity Verification for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 Smooth Back To Top Button 40K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #5 6 Real Testimonials – Testimonial Slider, Collect Customer Reviews and Video Testimonials 40K+ · 4.7★ (226) wp.org #9 ↓2 3 too low 7 Safelayout Cute Preloader – CSS3 WordPress Preloader 10K+ · 5.0★ (84) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 miniOrange 2FA – Two Factor Authentication for WordPress (OTP, SMS, Email, Google Authenticator) 10K+ · 4.5★ (385) wp.org #18 ↑1 8 too low 11 YayMail – WooCommerce Email Customizer 50K+ · 4.8★ (291) wp.org #19 ↓4 8 too low 12 Blacklist Manager – WooCommerce Anti-Fraud, Blacklist & Checkout Verification 2K+ · 3.6★ (14) wp.org #4 8 too high 13 Testimonial – Testimonial Slider and Showcase Plugin 20K+ · 4.6★ (67) wp.org #14 1 too low 14 Accessibility Widget by OneTap – Easy One-Click Accessibility Toolbar 60K+ · 4.9★ (80) wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15 Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) wp.org #22 7 too low 16 Live Composer – Free WordPress Website Builder 10K+ · 4.4★ (212) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 WPOrLogin – Custom Login, Social Login, CAPTCHA & Security 2K+ · 4.8★ (32) wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too high 18 Radius Portfolio – Filterable Grid, Gallery & Slider Portfolio 7K+ · 4.6★ (38) wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Magazine Blocks – Blog Designer, Magazine & Newspaper Website Builder, Page Builder with Posts Blocks, Post Grid 6K+ · 4.9★ (11) wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too high 20 EmailKit – Email Customizer for WooCommerce & WP 70K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 CookieAdmin – Cookie Consent Banner 400K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #7 ↓1 14 too high 22 DoLogin Security 7K+ · 4.5★ (13) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 Advanced Age Verification Popup 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 ↑1 10 too high 24 Browser Theme Color – Address Bar Color & Dark Mode 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↑1 12 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.