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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “dropcap”

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 “dropcap”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 6 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

Timeline Designer shows at wp.org #7 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 50+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

HT Mega Addons for Elementor – Elementor Widgets & Template Builder places #5 on merit, 4.1★ from 66 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Extensive VC Addons for WPBakery Page Builder 4K+ · 4.7★ (14) wp.org #1 2 Easy Bootstrap Shortcode 6K+ · 4.0★ (50) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Meks Flexible Shortcodes 10K+ · 4.2★ (10) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 Essential Classy Addons for Elementor – 150+ Widgets, Templates & Performance Tools 400+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 HT Mega Addons for Elementor – Elementor Widgets & Template Builder 60K+ · 4.1★ (66) wp.org #11 ↓1 6 too low 6 StagTools 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 Genesis Club Lite 900+ · 5.0★ (20) wp.org #18 ↓1 11 too low 8 HT Mega – Absolute Addons for WPBakery Page Builder 800+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 ↓1 4 too high 9 C Content Manager Light 80+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10 Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor 6K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 ↓1 4 too high 11 D Dropcaps Shortcode and Widget 200+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too high 12 Disable Drop Cap 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too high 13 Nova Blocks by Pixelgrade 800+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 F Front End Suite — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too low 15 P Popping Content Light 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 Ninja Gutenberg Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks Collection 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too low 17 Tipi Components 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too low 18 I Image Headlines 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓1 5 too low 19 S Share Theme Plugin — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 Amazing WPBakery Page Builder Addons 100+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↓1 5 too high 21 Massive Visual Page Builder 10+ · 1.8★ (5) wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too high 22 Kalimah Shortcodes 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too high 23 Timeline Designer 50+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #7 ↓1 16 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.