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

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 “encode”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

JSM file_get_contents() Shortcode shows at wp.org #12 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 300+ 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

PDF.js Viewer places #12 on merit, 4.4★ from 53 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 Email Address Encoder 100K+ · 4.2★ (160) wp.org #1 2 Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3213) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Email Encoder – Protect Email Addresses and Phone Numbers 90K+ · 4.9★ (93) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312) wp.org #4 5 Videopack 10K+ · 4.8★ (63) wp.org #5 6 A AJAX Thumbnail Rebuild 30K+ · 4.8★ (90) wp.org #6 7 Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF 1M+ · 4.3★ (1655) wp.org #9 2 too low 8 Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging 100K+ · 4.8★ (290) wp.org #8 ↓1 9 Kaya QR Code Generator 10K+ · 4.4★ (38) wp.org #7 ↑3 2 too high 10 Kraken.io Image Optimizer – Compress, Convert to WebP & AVIF, Resize & Bulk Optimize 10K+ · 4.5★ (119) wp.org #13 3 too low 11 Disable XML-RPC-API 100K+ · 4.2★ (43) wp.org #10 ↓2 1 too high 12 PDF.js Viewer 20K+ · 4.4★ (53) wp.org #16 4 too low 13 Protected Video 1K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 JWT Authentication for WP REST API 60K+ · 4.4★ (53) wp.org #17 3 too low 15 Prevent XSS Vulnerability 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #15 16 Web and WooCommerce Addons for WPBakery Builder 1K+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #21 ↑1 5 too low 17 MediaBlaster – Video CMS, Vimeo Import, Live TV & Podcasts 200+ · 3.9★ (14) wp.org #20 3 too low 18 Business Card Block – present your team and contact info in style 1K+ · 4.3★ (4) wp.org #19 1 too low 19 Spotlightr – Secure Video Hosting for WordPress, Courses & LearnDash 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 5 too high 20 UltraCache – Cache and Speed Optimization 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 ↑1 2 too low 21 JSM file_get_contents() Shortcode 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 9 too high 22 EffortLess QR Code Generator 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 4 too high 23 Cointopay — Crypto and Fiat Payments for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↑1 24 EffortLess Simple Image Optimiser 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓3

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.