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

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 “findings”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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 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

Multiple Columns for Gravity Forms shows at wp.org #7 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 30 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP Reset places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 1014 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #1 2

Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821) wp.org #2 3

Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #3 4

Quiz and Survey Master (QSM) – Quiz Maker & Survey Maker 40K+ · 4.7★ (1282) wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too low 5

Shortcode in Menus 50K+ · 4.7★ (82) wp.org #4 1 too high 6

Malcure Malware Shield — Removal, Repair, Monitor 10K+ · 4.4★ (74) wp.org #6 ↓1 7

Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider 500K+ · 4.6★ (742) wp.org #10 3 too low 8

GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) heavy footprint wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too low 9

WP Reset 300K+ · 4.8★ (1014) wp.org #14 ↑2 5 too low 10

SiteOrigin CSS 100K+ · 4.9★ (153) wp.org #12 ↑1 2 too low 11

We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45) wp.org #8 3 too high 12

Media Sync 50K+ · 4.7★ (86) wp.org #13 ↑1 1 too low 13

Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #22 9 too low 14

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #9 5 too high 15

Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 1 too low 17

Multiple Columns for Gravity Forms 10K+ · 4.5★ (30) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 ↓1 10 too high 18

Meow Mailer – Free SMTP, Everything Included 900+ · 5.0★ (25) wp.org #16 ↑3 2 too high 19 W WP Author Slug 3K+ · 4.8★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #15 4 too high 20

Assistant – Every Day Productivity Apps 4K+ · 4.9★ (15) heavy footprint thin reviews wp.org #20 21

Jetpack Search 5K+ · 4.5★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↑1 22

Dashboard To-Do List 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 1 too low 23

Media Sweep – WordPress Media Cleaner 1K+ · 3.8★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24

DevDome Malware Scanner – WordPress Malware Removal & Security Scanner 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑5 5 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.