wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “features”
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 “features”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme shows at wp.org #4 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 80K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.1★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. places #4 on merit, 4.9★ from 380 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #1 2 
Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (807)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Yoast Duplicate Post 3M+ · 4.7★ (538)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380)
wp.org #8 4 too low 5 
Extended Coupon Features for WooCommerce FREE 10K+ · 5.0★ (69)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Paid Membership Subscriptions – Effortless Memberships, Recurring Payments & Content Restriction 10K+ · 4.7★ (270)
wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too low 7 
SVG Support 1M+ · 4.8★ (356)
wp.org #7 ↑4 8 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too low 9 
Turn Off AI Features 400+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #2 7 too high 10 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too low 11 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #13 ↑2 2 too low 12 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #12 ↑11 13 
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #19 6 too low 14 
CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes 200K+ · 4.7★ (326)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
Postie 10K+ · 4.7★ (139)
wp.org #15 ↑9 16 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #18 ↑1 2 too low 17 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #23 ↓5 6 too low 18 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #17 ↑5 1 too high 19 
GA Google Analytics – Connect Google Analytics to WordPress 400K+ · 4.9★ (158)
wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too low 20 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
WPMasterToolKit (WPMTK) – All in one plugin 5K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #22 ↓9 1 too low 22 
Premium Portfolio Features for Phlox theme 30K+ · 4.3★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 11 too high 23 Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme 80K+ · 2.1★ (7) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 19 too high 24 
WC Disable Zoom / Lightbox features 700+ · 3.2★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓4 4 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.