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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “document list”

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 “document list”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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 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

Document Embedder Addons for Elementor – Embed Documents in Elementor Websites shows at wp.org #6 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.7★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Download Monitor places #8 on merit, 4.5★ from 525 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Document Gallery 8K+ · 4.8★ (112) wp.org #1 2 Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (441) wp.org #8 ↓4 5 too low 4 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #9 5 too low 5 FileBird Document Library 5K+ · 4.9★ (8) wp.org #3 ↓1 2 too high 6 CatFolders Document Gallery & PDF Library 3K+ · 4.5★ (15) wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too high 7 Document Library Lite 4K+ · 4.1★ (12) wp.org #4 ↓3 3 too high 8 Download Monitor 80K+ · 4.5★ (525) wp.org #23 ↓3 15 too low 9 WP Document Revisions 2K+ · 3.7★ (23) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too high 10 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #21 ↑2 11 too low 11 L List all URLs 4K+ · 4.7★ (19) wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too low 12 EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) wp.org #24 ↓14 12 too low 13 Plugins List 700+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 Document Viewer – let visitors view files right in the browser 2K+ · 4.7★ (52) wp.org #20 ↓1 6 too low 15 Filr – Secure document library 700+ · 4.6★ (18) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 Ditty – Responsive News Tickers, Sliders, and Lists 30K+ · 4.6★ (106) wp.org #22 6 too low 17 L List View Google Calendar 400+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #17 18 WPYog Documents 100+ · 4.6★ (12) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 Download List Block with Icons 400+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 Icon List Block – Add Icon-Based Lists with Custom Styles 4K+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #10 ↓2 10 too high 21 Document Embedder Addons for Elementor – Embed Documents in Elementor Websites 6K+ · 3.7★ (7) wp.org #6 ↓1 15 too high 22 Open Search Document 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #15 7 too high 23 Document Engine – Document Library, PDF Viewer & Post to PDF 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 ↓1 10 too high 24 GovernDocs Document Management – Agenda, Minutes, Meetings, Reports & more 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 10 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.