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

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 “echo”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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

Show IDs by Echo shows at wp.org #2 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Social Media Feather places #3 on merit, 4.6★ from 506 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Echo Knowledge Base – Documentation, FAQs, Chat & Smart Search 10K+ · 4.9★ (124) wp.org #1 2 A Attachments 8K+ · 4.8★ (53) wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too low 3 Social Media Feather 10K+ · 4.6★ (506) wp.org #12 ↓3 9 too low 4 Kama Thumbnail 8K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #4 5 One User Avatar | User Profile Picture 100K+ · 4.7★ (41) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 Categories Images 50K+ · 4.5★ (86) wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 GDPR Data Request Form 5K+ · 4.9★ (14) wp.org #6 1 too high 8 EchoRewards – Refer a Friend Rewards Program for WooCommerce 300+ · 3.9★ (8) wp.org #3 5 too high 9 K KIA Subtitle 7K+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #8 ↓3 1 too high 10 Bogo 10K+ · 4.5★ (48) wp.org #19 ↓2 9 too low 11 Custom Global Variables 5K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #10 1 too high 12 WP Telegram Widget and Join Link 4K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #18 ↓3 6 too low 13 Genesis Simple Hooks 20K+ · 4.6★ (22) wp.org #16 ↓5 3 too low 14 Show IDs by Echo 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #2 12 too high 15 ACF Photo Gallery Field 60K+ · 4.0★ (29) wp.org #13 ↓3 2 too high 16 Easy Image Gallery 4K+ · 4.6★ (41) wp.org #20 4 too low 17 List categories 5K+ · 4.5★ (15) wp.org #21 ↓4 4 too low 18 Posts Like Dislike 5K+ · 4.3★ (23) wp.org #22 ↓5 4 too low 19 TWB Woocommerce Reviews 600+ · 4.8★ (26) wp.org #23 ↓4 4 too low 20 Advanced Category and Custom Taxonomy Image 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #15 ↓2 5 too high 21 Creative Addons for Elementor 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #11 ↓4 10 too high 22 RDV Category Image 300+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #24 ↓4 2 too low 23 Scroll Down Arrow 900+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 ↓3 6 too high 24 Reorder Terms 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 ↓2 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.