wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “file listing”
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 “file listing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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
Store file uploads for Contact Form 7 shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1680 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.
Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138)
wp.org #1 2 
GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716)
wp.org #2 3 
Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too low 8 
FileOrganizer – WordPress File Manager 200K+ · 4.8★ (49)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
HireZoot – Job Listings, Career Page & Recruitment Tool 30K+ · 4.8★ (194)
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 
Easy Property Listings 5K+ · 4.7★ (112)
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too high 11 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #13 ↑2 2 too low 12 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #20 ↓1 8 too low 13 
MultiLine Files for Contact Form 7 9K+ · 4.9★ (49)
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Media Library Organizer – Folders, File Manager & Media Categories 20K+ · 4.7★ (150)
wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122)
wp.org #15 ↓2 16 
Tabbed Category Product Listing for Woocommerce 1K+ · 4.9★ (28)
wp.org #11 5 too high 17 
Listdom: AI-powered Business Directory with Classifieds Ads Listings 1K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #16 ↑5 1 too high 18 
Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79)
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 
Realtyna Organic IDX plugin + WPL Real Estate 1K+ · 4.7★ (203)
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
Auto Listings – Car Listings & Car Dealership Plugin for WordPress 2K+ · 4.3★ (31)
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too high 21 Store file uploads for Contact Form 7 1K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #14 7 too high 22 
Fast Etsy Listings 400+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Classified Listing Toolkits 4K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 
Import into Easy Property Listings 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓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.