wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “due date”
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 “due date”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 3 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
DX Out of Date shows at wp.org #6 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.3★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Gallery by Visual Portfolio places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 340 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143)
wp.org #1 2 I Insert Pages 30K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Order Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.3★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 
Estimated delivery date per product for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.3★ (83) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Project Manager – AI Powered Project Management, Task Management, Kanban Board & Time Tracker 5K+ · 3.8★ (187)
wp.org #9 ↓2 2 too low 8 
Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups 80K+ · 4.4★ (859)
wp.org #18 ↓2 10 too low 9 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #17 ↑4 8 too low 10 
Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager 80K+ · 4.7★ (296)
wp.org #20 ↓2 10 too low 11 Gallery by Visual Portfolio 60K+ · 4.8★ (340)
wp.org #22 ↓5 11 too low 12 
Sliced Invoices – WordPress Invoice Plugin 4K+ · 4.6★ (117) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too high 13 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #23 ↓3 10 too low 14 
FluentBoards – Project Management, Task Management, Goal Tracking, Kanban Board, and, Team Collaboration 6K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #14 ↓2 15 
Statify 100K+ · 4.8★ (51)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
Subscriptions for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (180) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓3 17 
WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices, Packing Slips, Delivery Notes & Shipping Labels 50K+ · 4.9★ (285) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 4 too low 18 
Advanced Partial Payment or Deposit for WooCommerce 200+ · 4.6★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 7 too high 19 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
Taskbuilder – Project Management & Task Management Tool With Kanban Board 700+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓2 7 too high 21 
Post Date Change Redirection 50+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 9 too high 22 DX Out of Date 80+ · 4.3★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #6 16 too high 23 
WP Pregnancy & Ovulation Calculator 50+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 8 too high 24 
Kanbanz 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #8 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.