wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “dribbble shortcode”

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 “dribbble shortcode”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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

Social Media Shortcodes shows at wp.org #11 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Professional Social Sharing Buttons, Icons & Related Posts – Shareaholic places #11 on merit, 4.4★ from 1053 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051) wp.org #2 1 too low 2

All-in-one Sticky Floating Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, and 50+ Social Icon Tabs – My Sticky Elements 40K+ · 4.9★ (542) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Gallery by Visual Portfolio 60K+ · 4.8★ (340) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5

Wp Social Login and Register Social Counter 70K+ · 4.6★ (67) wp.org #4 1 too high 6

Social Login, Social Sharing by miniOrange 10K+ · 4.6★ (356) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too high 7

WP Socializer – Simple & Easy Social Media Share Icons 10K+ · 4.5★ (128) wp.org #8 1 too low 8

WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144) wp.org #10 2 too low 9

Envira Gallery – Image Photo Gallery, Albums, Video Gallery, Slideshows & More 100K+ · 4.7★ (1597) wp.org #17 ↓2 8 too low 10

Team Members – A WordPress Team Plugin with Gallery, Grid, Carousel, Slider, Table, List, and More 2K+ · 4.7★ (91) wp.org #12 2 too low 11

Professional Social Sharing Buttons, Icons & Related Posts – Shareaholic 10K+ · 4.4★ (1053) wp.org #20 9 too low 12

Flow-Flow Social Streams 7K+ · 3.3★ (100) wp.org #9 3 too high 13

Solid Testimonials – Testimonial Slider, Video Testimonials & Customer Reviews 1K+ · 4.3★ (35) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 6 too high 14

GS Books Showcase – Display Books in Grid, Slider & More | Library for WordPress 500+ · 4.8★ (42) wp.org #14 15

Social Login 4K+ · 4.3★ (366) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 3 too low 16

WP Social Widget 4K+ · 4.7★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #13 3 too high 17

Superb Social Media Share Buttons and Follow Buttons 6K+ · 4.4★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too high 18

KiviCare – Clinic & Patient Management System (EHR) 1K+ · 3.6★ (23) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too high 19

Social Media Shortcodes 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #11 8 too high 20

StagTools 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #24 4 too low 21

Heateor Login – Social Login Plugin 20+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #19 2 too high 22

Group Splash – Team Introducer — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #23 1 too low 23

Ultimate Team Showcase – Advanced WordPress Team Members Plugin 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #21 2 too high 24

SimpleSocial 100+ · 3.0★ (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.