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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “editorial analytics”

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 “editorial analytics”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

Newsroom OS – Google Discover, Google News, Schema & Editorial Workflow shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 716 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Nelio Content – Editorial Calendar & Social Media Auto-Posting 3K+ · 4.4★ (104) wp.org #1 2 Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1237) wp.org #5 ↑5 3 too low 3 Disable Comments 1M+ · 4.7★ (281) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 BetterLinks – Link Shortener, Link Cloaking, Redirects, Affiliate Link Manager & MCP 20K+ · 4.8★ (85) wp.org #6 ↓2 2 too low 5 Create 6K+ · 4.3★ (25) wp.org #3 2 too high 6 ConvertNow Analytics: Website Stats, Visitor Statistics, AI Traffic and Bot Filtering 70+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 ShopLentor – All-in-One WooCommerce Growth & Store Enhancement Plugin 80K+ · 4.5★ (278) wp.org #10 ↓3 3 too low 8 Simple 301 Redirects by BetterLinks – Easy Redirect Manager 100K+ · 3.8★ (162) wp.org #8 ↓2 9 BetterDocs – AI Documentation, Knowledge Base, MCP Server, Docs, Wikis, FAQ & Chatbot 30K+ · 4.8★ (515) wp.org #14 ↓5 5 too low 10 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #16 ↓1 6 too low 11 Oasis Workflow 600+ · 4.8★ (51) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 Email Subscribers & Newsletters by Icegram Express – Email Marketing, Post Notifications & WooCommerce Marekting Automation for WordPress 50K+ · 4.6★ (1170) wp.org #17 5 too low 13 Content Egg – Affiliate Product Importer & Price Comparison 10K+ · 3.9★ (56) wp.org #7 ↓2 6 too high 14 WP Post Author – Author Box, Multiple Authors, Guest Authors & Custom Avatars 10K+ · 4.2★ (22) wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too low 15 StoryChief 1K+ · 4.7★ (14) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Web Stories 60K+ · 4.2★ (87) wp.org #24 ↓2 8 too low 17 Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) wp.org #22 ↓3 5 too low 18 Missed Schedule Post Publisher 6K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #11 7 too high 19 Add as Preferred Source on Google 900+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too low 20 Linked Variations for WooCommerce – Link Separate Products by Attribute with Swatches, Quick View & Shortcodes 500+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too high 21 Newsroom OS – Google Discover, Google News, Schema & Editorial Workflow 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 Conditional Payment Methods for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #18 ↓2 4 too high 23 Blockenberg — 645 Advanced Gutenberg Blocks, 683 Templates and AI Agent for WordPress Block Editor 1K+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #23 ↓2 24 Fabrica Dashboard 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↓2 4 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.