wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “fire”
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 “fire”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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
Einsatzverwaltung shows at wp.org #10 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 17 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 4514 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.
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #1 2 
PixelYourSite – Your smart PIXEL (TAG) & API Manager 400K+ · 4.3★ (281)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Two Factor 100K+ · 4.7★ (209)
wp.org #4 5 
LoginWP (Formerly Peter's Login Redirect) 80K+ · 4.8★ (503)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Widget Importer & Exporter 200K+ · 4.7★ (117)
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 
WP-Sweep 100K+ · 4.7★ (138)
wp.org #11 ↑1 1 too low 11 
Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397)
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514)
wp.org #20 ↓2 8 too low 13 
Editorial Calendar 20K+ · 4.9★ (79)
wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 
Confetti – Celebration Effects for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (49)
wp.org #13 ↓2 1 too high 15 
Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #17 ↑4 2 too low 16 Einsatzverwaltung 1K+ · 4.9★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 6 too high 17 
WP Webhooks – Automate repetitive tasks by creating powerful automation workflows directly within WordPress 20K+ · 4.7★ (55)
wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too low 18 
Call Now Button – The Free Click to Call Button for WordPress 200K+ · 4.8★ (102)
wp.org #22 ↑1 4 too low 19 
FireBox – WooCommerce Popup Builder, Exit Intent Popup, Email Optin & Cart Abandonment 6K+ · 4.8★ (76)
wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too low 20 
Discussion Board – WordPress Forum Plugin 1K+ · 4.6★ (43)
wp.org #16 ↑1 4 too high 21 
Bricks Navigator 8K+ · 5.0★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑1 6 too high 22 
Ele Conditions for Elementor 2K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓4 3 too high 23 
Order on Mobile for WooCommerce 7K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓3 24 
Light Views Counter – Fast, Scalable View Counter for High-Traffic Sites 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.