wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “fact check”
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 “fact check”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Unstale – Refresh Old Posts with AI, Fact-Check & Republish shows at wp.org #2 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 18 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #1 2 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3 
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
WP Recipe Maker 50K+ · 5.0★ (356)
wp.org #9 ↓1 4 too low 6 
Page scroll to id 100K+ · 4.9★ (225)
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 
Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. 200K+ · 4.7★ (2215)
wp.org #14 ↓2 7 too low 8 
Cooked – Recipe Management 3K+ · 3.9★ (90)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too high 9 
WP Travel Engine – Tour Booking Plugin – Tour Operator Software 20K+ · 4.9★ (594)
wp.org #17 ↓2 8 too low 10 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275)
wp.org #13 ↑4 3 too low 11 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874)
wp.org #20 9 too low 12 
VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS 8K+ · 4.8★ (61)
wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too high 13 
Redirection for Contact Form 7 200K+ · 4.7★ (275)
wp.org #16 ↓2 3 too low 14 
Starter Templates: AI-Powered Website Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 1M+ · 4.9★ (4755)
wp.org #22 ↓4 8 too low 15 
Autoptimize 800K+ · 4.7★ (1428)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
Enable SVG, WebP, and ICO Upload 10K+ · 4.6★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 9 too high 17 
YITH WooCommerce Quick View 80K+ · 3.8★ (27)
wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too high 18 
ThinkRank SEO – AI SEO Plugin for SEO & Google Search Console 20K+ · 4.9★ (36)
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
YITH Infinite Scrolling 9K+ · 4.3★ (46)
wp.org #18 ↓2 1 too high 20 Unstale – Refresh Old Posts with AI, Fact-Check & Republish 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 ↓1 18 too high 21 
La Sentinelle antispam 3K+ · 5.0★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓3 3 too low 22 
Bold Page Builder 40K+ · 3.6★ (66)
wp.org #23 ↓3 1 too low 23 
Pinterest for WooCommerce 200K+ · 2.3★ (68)
wp.org #15 ↓2 8 too high 24 
SEO’n’AI – AI Image check&mark 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 13 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.