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

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 “env”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

REST API blocks shows at wp.org #5 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 200+ 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Waymark 900+ · 5.0★ (54) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 User Admin Simplifier 10K+ · 5.0★ (31) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #6 ↑1 3 too low 4 404 Solution 10K+ · 4.9★ (44) wp.org #7 ↓3 3 too low 5 Merge + Minify + Refresh 3K+ · 4.2★ (68) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 WP EXtra – One Click Optimize 6K+ · 4.9★ (41) wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too low 7 Cowboy MCP – Free MCP Server with Undo for Claude & ChatGPT 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #4 ↑1 3 too high 8 CodeColorer 1K+ · 4.9★ (11) wp.org #9 1 too low 9 Simple SMTP 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too low 10 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #13 3 too low 11 Environment & Debug Bar 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 8 too high 12 AntiSpam for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.2★ (13) wp.org #15 3 too low 13 Responsive Navigation Block 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too low 14 C3 Cloudfront Cache Controller 3K+ · 4.3★ (3) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 SiteFort Security – Malware Scanner, Firewall, Login Security & Hardening 50+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #21 6 too low 16 Content Switcher 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 REST API blocks 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 ↑1 12 too high 18 Content Area Block 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 GranTech IP Firewall for AbuseIPDB 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 Profound Agent Analytics 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↓2 4 too high 21 BotZoom 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓3 1 too low 22 MakeITeasy Flip Card 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23 CB Bot Guard 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Substack Importer 1K+ · 2.8★ (4) wp.org #18 ↓1 6 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.