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← Rankings

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

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 “edition”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 5 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

Small Package Quotes – Worldwide Express Edition shows at wp.org #8 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 90+ 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

Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 802 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 wp.org
1 NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) wp.org #1 2 Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) wp.org #2 3 WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184) wp.org #3 4 Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155) wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490) wp.org #6 ↓2 1 too low 6 Duplicate Page 3M+ · 4.8★ (466) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 File Manager 1M+ · 4.6★ (1492) wp.org #10 3 too low 8 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) wp.org #15 ↓2 7 too low 9 Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator 200K+ · 4.9★ (802) wp.org #20 ↑1 11 too low 10 Weight Based Shipping for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.6★ (83) wp.org #13 ↓2 3 too low 11 WP Import Export Lite 40K+ · 4.0★ (113) wp.org #18 ↑2 7 too low 12 JoomSport – for Sports: Team & League, Football, Hockey & more 1K+ · 4.9★ (44) wp.org #17 ↑1 5 too low 13 Simple Sitemap – Responsive HTML Sitemap for WordPress 60K+ · 3.9★ (72) wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too low 14 SiteGuard WP Plugin 600K+ · 4.3★ (15) wp.org #4 ↑1 10 too high 15 NinjaScanner – Virus & Malware scan 40K+ · 4.0★ (36) wp.org #23 ↓1 8 too low 16 Melapress Login Security 3K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 Set Price Note (Units, Offers, Editions) for WooCommerce 700+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #9 ↓1 8 too high 18 Elementor Beta (Developer Edition) 30K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too high 19 WP All Import – Import SEO Settings for Rank Math SEO 6K+ · 4.5★ (4) wp.org #19 20 LTL Freight Quotes – Worldwide Express Edition 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 ↑2 8 too high 21 Small Package Quotes – UPS Edition 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑1 10 too high 22 Small Package Quotes – Worldwide Express Edition 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↑1 14 too high 23 LTL Freight Quotes – SAIA Edition 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 LTL Freight Quotes – GlobalTranz Edition 20+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.