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

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 “flexslider”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

SlideCraft – Responsive Slider & Carousel shows at wp.org #4 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 20 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Vimeography: Vimeo Video Gallery WordPress Plugin places #8 on merit, 4.5★ from 122 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Arconix Shortcodes 3K+ · 4.6★ (24) wp.org #1 2 BNE Testimonials 1K+ · 4.9★ (28) wp.org #2 3 Arconix FAQ 6K+ · 4.7★ (79) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 Related Products for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (46) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Weaver Show Sliders 900+ · 4.5★ (6) wp.org #3 2 too high 6 WP Image Zoom 10K+ · 4.3★ (119) wp.org #14 ↓3 8 too low 7 D Debloat – Remove Unused CSS, Optimize JS 30K+ · 4.8★ (41) wp.org #13 6 too low 8 Vimeography: Vimeo Video Gallery WordPress Plugin 5K+ · 4.5★ (122) wp.org #20 ↓1 12 too low 9 Magic Product Video for WooCommerce – Self-Hosted Product Video Gallery 20+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too high 10 Additional Variation Images Gallery for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (162) wp.org #22 ↓5 12 too low 11 Dessky Responsive Slider 70+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #7 ↓1 4 too high 12 Video Gallery for WooCommerce – Add Product Video & Featured Video 4K+ · 5.0★ (44) wp.org #21 ↓1 9 too low 13 R Recent Posts FlexSlider 700+ · 4.6★ (18) wp.org #15 ↓3 2 too low 14 Responsive WordPress Slider – HG Slider 7K+ · 3.8★ (12) wp.org #19 ↓1 5 too low 15 CSSIgniter Shortcodes 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #18 ↓2 3 too low 16 Badges Woo 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 ↑5 17 IssueM 600+ · 4.1★ (13) wp.org #24 ↓1 7 too low 18 Arconix Flexslider 200+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 F FiveStar Product Image Gallery Control for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 ↓1 9 too high 20 Flexa Extra – Product Options, Variation Swatches & Pricing for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 ↑3 9 too high 21 Ultimate Team Showcase – Advanced WordPress Team Members Plugin 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 SazKit – Product Gallery for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↓2 10 too high 23 Inventory Presser – Car Dealer Listings 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓2 24 SlideCraft – Responsive Slider & Carousel 80+ · 1.0★ (2) wp.org #4 20 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.