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

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 “freeze”, we and wp.org disagree 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

Freeze Shipping Alert and Global Hardiness Zones and Frost Data shows at wp.org #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its — 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

wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin places #4 on merit, 4.5★ from 449 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Admin Custom Login 10K+ · 4.6★ (388) wp.org #5 4 too low 2 GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Freeze | The protection for abandoned websites 80+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #1 2 too high 4 wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449) wp.org #11 ↓4 7 too low 5 GSheetConnector – Elementor Forms Google Sheet Connector to Sync Submissions to Google Sheets 9K+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830) wp.org #13 7 too low 7 FlexTable – Data Table Sync with Google Sheets 3K+ · 4.6★ (35) wp.org #7 ↑3 8 Content Freeze 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 6 too high 9 MyCryptoCheckout – Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 100+ altcoins for WooCommerce 8K+ · 4.3★ (49) wp.org #9 10 GSheetConnector – Gravity Forms Google Sheets Connector – Real-Time Sync 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #6 4 too high 11 GSheetConnector – WPForms Google Sheets Connector, Save WPForms Lite & PRO Entries to Database & Sheets 7K+ · 4.6★ (18) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 GSheetConnector – WooCommerce Google Sheets Connector, Export Orders & Products to Google Sheets in Real-Time 3K+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #12 ↓1 13 TableKit – WordPress Table Builder for Data Tables, WooCommerce Product Tables & Post Tables 3K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #8 5 too high 14 RioVizual — Table Blocks for Comparison, Pricing and Pros & Cons 1K+ · 4.6★ (12) wp.org #16 2 too low 15 Change Last Modified Date 3K+ · 4.3★ (12) wp.org #15 16 FlexStock – Product Stock Sync with Google Sheets for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.5★ (22) wp.org #24 ↓2 8 too low 17 Eazy Plugin Manager 80+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #18 ↑2 1 too low 18 Connect Elementor Forms to Google Sheets Addon 700+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 Image Slider 4K+ · 3.4★ (31) wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too low 20 GSheetConnector – Forminator Google Sheets Connector, Export Forminator Submissions 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 3 too high 21 Freeze Shipping Alert and Global Hardiness Zones and Frost Data — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↑2 11 too high 22 WPSyncSheets For WPForms – Google Sheets Connector for WPForms & Real‑Time Data Export 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Upgrade Pilot – PHP Compatibility & Update Freeze Control — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↑2 1 too high 24 Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade 100+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.