wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “embedded timeline”
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 “embedded timeline”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 4 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
Document Embedder Addons for Elementor – Embed Documents in Elementor Websites shows at wp.org #5 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.7★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Easy Accordion – AI-Powered FAQ & Accordion Blocks, Product FAQ places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 358 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #1 2 
Custom Twitter Feeds – A Tweets Widget or X Feed Widget 100K+ · 4.8★ (401)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Easy Social Feed – All In One Social Feed Plugin for WordPress 30K+ · 4.6★ (502)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Unlimited Elements for Elementor 300K+ · 4.8★ (525)
wp.org #4 ↑2 5 
PowerPack Lite for Beaver Builder 6K+ · 5.0★ (243)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #9 ↓5 2 too low 8 
PowerPack Addons for Elementor: Widgets, Form Styler and Templates 70K+ · 4.8★ (361)
wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too low 9 
RegistrationMagic – Custom Registration Forms, User Registration, Payment, and User Login 7K+ · 4.5★ (459)
wp.org #15 6 too low 10 
Buttonizer – Social Media Share Buttons, Social Icons, & Social Feeds 40K+ · 4.8★ (396) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too low 11 
Interactive Content – H5P 40K+ · 4.8★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 Easy Accordion – AI-Powered FAQ & Accordion Blocks, Product FAQ 70K+ · 4.9★ (358)
wp.org #19 ↓6 7 too low 13 
HubSpot All-In-One Marketing – Forms, Popups, Live Chat 200K+ · 4.3★ (207)
wp.org #14 ↓6 1 too low 14 
Customer Engagement System – Popup Builder, Forms, CRM & Email Marketing Automation 9K+ · 4.5★ (340)
wp.org #18 4 too low 15 
Prime Slider – Hero Slider, Carousel, WooCommerce & Post Slider Elementor Addons 100K+ · 4.5★ (82)
wp.org #20 ↓4 5 too low 16 
Social LikeBox & Feed 10K+ · 3.3★ (47)
wp.org #22 ↓2 6 too low 17 
Squad Modules Lite – Free Divi 5 & Divi 4 Modules for Divi Builder 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too high 18 
AWCA – The Great Analytics Insights for Your eStore 2K+ · 4.7★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓2 1 too high 19 Document Embedder Addons for Elementor – Embed Documents in Elementor Websites 6K+ · 3.7★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓2 14 too high 20 
The Innovative Form Builder – IvyForms 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 4 too low 21 
Vanquish Shipping Tracking – Order Tracking & Carrier Links for WooCommerce 30+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓2 22 
Dear Timeline (Best Vertical & Horizontal Timeline) 10+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑7 12 too high 23 
Uix Shortcodes 300+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓5 24 
TikTok 200K+ · 1.8★ (39)
wp.org #16 ↓2 8 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.