wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “filter posts”

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 “filter posts”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 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

Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor shows at wp.org #10 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 18 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154) wp.org #1 2

Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #2 3

Duplicate Post 300K+ · 4.9★ (1623) wp.org #7 4 too low 4

YMC Filter 4K+ · 4.8★ (34) wp.org #3 1 too high 5

Product Filter for WooCommerce by WBW 50K+ · 4.8★ (325) wp.org #6 1 too low 6

HUSKY – Products Filter for WooCommerce Professional. MCP is onboard 80K+ · 4.6★ (337) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 2 too high 7

Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81) wp.org #5 2 too high 8

Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348) wp.org #11 3 too low 9

Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296) wp.org #8 1 too high 10

Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175) wp.org #9 1 too high 11

Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526) wp.org #22 10 too low 13

Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215) wp.org #15 2 too low 14

Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276) wp.org #13 1 too high 15

Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint wp.org #17 2 too low 16 P Posts 2 Posts 9K+ · 4.8★ (101) wp.org #16 17

Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588) wp.org #23 6 too low 18

List category posts 80K+ · 4.7★ (254) wp.org #21 3 too low 19

Category Posts Block 40K+ · 4.5★ (79) wp.org #18 1 too high 20

Filter Gallery 3K+ · 4.6★ (22) thin reviews wp.org #12 9 too high 22

Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 12 too high 23

Post Category Filter (WP Admin) 1K+ · 5.0★ (25) wp.org #20 3 too high 24

VK Filter Search 6K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #24

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.