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

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 “extreme”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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

Range Slider for Elementor Forms shows at wp.org #6 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 11 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

Image Optimizer by 10web – Image Optimizer and Compression plugin places #7 on merit, 4.5★ from 54 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too low 2 10Web Booster – Website speed optimization, Cache & Page Speed optimizer 60K+ · 4.6★ (405) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 T Themify Popup 8K+ · 4.9★ (11) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too high 5 KolorWeb Access Admin Notification: extreme rescue for unauthorized admin logins 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #1 4 too high 6 Advanced Coupons for WooCommerce – BOGO, Store Credit & WooCommerce Coupons 20K+ · 4.4★ (184) wp.org #11 5 too low 7 Image Optimizer by 10web – Image Optimizer and Compression plugin 3K+ · 4.5★ (54) wp.org #14 7 too low 8 Virusdie | One-click website security 2K+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too high 9 Advanced Settings 3 200+ · 3.9★ (7) wp.org #10 1 too low 10 S SyncFields 40+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 TrueROAS AI Ad Attribution 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #9 2 too high 12 DropAvif Image Optimizer – Convert WebP & AVIF | Compress Images 80+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #19 7 too low 13 PicPoints – Interactive Image Map & Hotspot Builder 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #17 ↑1 4 too low 14 S SC Scrollup – Lightweight Scroll to Top Button 30+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 WP Delete Post Copies 200+ · 3.8★ (6) wp.org #21 6 too low 16 PPP Extension 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↓1 8 too high 17 Range Slider for Elementor Forms 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 11 too high 18 PDF Flipbook Heyzine 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 5 too high 19 Vunelix Financial Widgets – Cryptocurrency, Stock Ticker & Forex 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 3 too low 20 Holographic Extreme Cache — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 5 too high 21 CFF Fitness and Health Operations 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 Animicro 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too high 23 E Embed Bokun 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 PDF Invoice and Packing Slip for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 1 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.