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

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 “filtration”, we agree with wp.org 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

YMM Product Filter for Woo – Year Make Model search shows at wp.org #3 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 90+ 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

Portfolio, Gallery, Product Catalog – Grid KIT Portfolio places #2 on merit, 4.4★ from 300 reviews, but shows at wp.org #7. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Product Import Export for WooCommerce – CSV Product Importer & Exporter 80K+ · 4.6★ (413) wp.org #1 2

Portfolio, Gallery, Product Catalog – Grid KIT Portfolio 6K+ · 4.4★ (300) wp.org #7 5 too low 3

Easy Duplicate Woo Order 1K+ · 4.7★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #4 1 too low 4

ApplyOnline – Application Form Builder and Manager 2K+ · 4.1★ (40) wp.org #5 1 too low 5

WebDefender Security – Protection & AntiSpam 1K+ · 4.0★ (18) thin reviews wp.org #8 2 too low 7

Price Update: Bulk Pricing Editor for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.0★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #6 1 too high 8

WC Shop Sync – Square Payment Gateway and Product Synchronization for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.5★ (42) wp.org #17 9 too low 9

MDTF – Meta Data and Taxonomies Filter 900+ · 4.5★ (28) wp.org #16 7 too low 10

Trash Duplicate and 301 Redirect 900+ · 4.3★ (36) wp.org #18 8 too low 11

WP Guidant | Guided Selling & Product Recommendation Quiz Plugin 300+ · 4.1★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #15 4 too low 12

YMM Product Filter for Woo – Year Make Model search 90+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #3 9 too high 13

Portfolio Designer – WordPress Portfolio Plugin (Image/Video/Slider Gallery) 100+ · 3.5★ (10) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 14

LinksTrackly — · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too high 15

Spam Filter For Elementor Form 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 6 too high 16 T Taxonomy Chain Menu 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 6 too high 17

Bonzer Custom Fields Creator 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too high 18

World Inspire Email Validation for Fluent Forms — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 4 too high 19

LineSW Search Rank Monitor — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #21 2 too low 20

OneSight Integration for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 21

COVID-19 Corona Virus Live Stats & Updates For WordPress Lite 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 1 too low 22

Bitcoin payment for WooCommerce 60+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #19 3 too high 23 F Filtration 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24

tePortfolio – Responsive Portfolio and Gallery 10+ · 2.8★ (5) closure risk thin reviews 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.