wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “emoji”
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 “emoji”, 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
Emoji Toolbar shows at wp.org #3 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #5 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 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.
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #4 ↑2 2 too low 3 
Autoptimize 800K+ · 4.7★ (1428)
wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #16 ↑4 11 too low 6 
WP ULike – Like Buttons, Voting & Engagement Analytics 60K+ · 4.8★ (283)
wp.org #17 ↓5 11 too low 7 
Compressed Emoji 200+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↑1 5 too high 8 
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) not PHP-current
wp.org #15 7 too low 9 
Blog2Social: Social Media Auto Post & Scheduler 40K+ · 4.5★ (2107) not PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓3 11 too low 10 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #18 ↑1 8 too low 11 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑3 1 too low 12 
Emoji Settings 2K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 4 too high 13 
Advanced Woo Labels – Product Labels & Badges for WooCommerce 10K+ · 5.0★ (64) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too low 14 
Spam Protection | Maspik 30K+ · 4.7★ (87)
wp.org #24 ↓8 10 too low 15 
Featherweight 10K+ · 4.1★ (45) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 4 too high 16 
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too high 17 Emoji Toolbar 2K+ · 4.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↓1 14 too high 18 
Web Push Notifications – Webpushr 10K+ · 4.7★ (63) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↑1 3 too low 19 
WPS Bidouille 9K+ · 4.9★ (54) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 
Instant Emoji Reactions 100+ · 4.4★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 13 too high 21 
LWS Optimize – All-in-One Speed Booster & Cache Tools 20K+ · 4.6★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too high 22 
Comment Emojis for WP 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #9 13 too high 23 
Remoji – Post/Comment Reaction and Enhancement 300+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #23 24 
Remove WP Emojis — Correctly 60+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #10 14 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.