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

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 “esv”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 of the top 17. 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

Literal Word BibleTagger shows at wp.org #4 but places #8 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ 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 signals wp.org

ESV CrossReference Tool 500+ · 4.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Bible Verse of the Day 3K+ · 4.9★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Bible Reading Plans 100+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #2 1 too high 4

BibleLink Multilingual 300+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓1 5 too low 5

Truth 70+ · 4.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #6 1 too low 6

Easy Support Videos – Embed videos in the admin 500+ · 5.0★ (9) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too low 7

PrimeBible Verse Preview 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 2 too high 8

Literal Word BibleTagger 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #4 4 too high 9

Praise Director — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #7 2 too high 10

Hidden Word Bible Lessons — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too high 11

Kirchenjahr evangelisch 30+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓1 12

VerseLinker 50+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too high 13

BibleBridge 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14

SermonPress 20+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too low 15 N NetBible Tagger Reloaded — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too low 16 V Verse Of The Day 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too low 17 B BIOY 10+ · 3.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 3 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.