wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “future value”
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 “future value”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
AC’s Savings Calculator shows at wp.org #4 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 200+ 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
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 1107 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833)
wp.org #1 2 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27820)
wp.org #2 3 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #3 4 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Customer Reviews for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (1539)
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too low 8 
Smart COD for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (52)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
PW WooCommerce Bulk Edit 20K+ · 4.9★ (238)
wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too low 10 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 
GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129)
wp.org #10 ↑6 1 too high 12 Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1107)
wp.org #19 ↓1 7 too low 13 
Quick Featured Images 50K+ · 4.7★ (235)
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too low 14 
FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250)
wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15 
GenerateBlocks 200K+ · 4.9★ (122)
wp.org #15 ↓2 16 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #11 5 too high 17 
MetForm – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Conditional Forms, Form Templates & Custom Form Builder for Elementor 500K+ · 4.7★ (509)
wp.org #24 7 too low 18 
Disable Media Pages 10K+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #18 19 
Event Post 1K+ · 4.3★ (35)
wp.org #20 ↑3 1 too low 20 
Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25)
wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21 AC’s Savings Calculator 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #4 17 too high 22 
AC’s Retirement Nest Egg Calculator 80+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓1 16 too high 23 
BOX NOW Delivery Croatia + Slovenia 900+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 
BOX NOW Delivery 6K+ · 2.4★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑3 3 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.