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

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 “genericons”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

AR Menu Icons shows at wp.org #7 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 10 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

To Top places #3 on merit, 4.8★ from 54 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Menu Icons by Themeisle – Add Icons to Navigation Menus 100K+ · 4.9★ (851) wp.org #1 2 WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144) wp.org #2 3 To Top 60K+ · 4.8★ (54) wp.org #10 ↓1 7 too low 4 B Book Review Library 200+ · 4.8★ (16) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 Safelayout Elegant Icons – WordPress icons 700+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #3 ↓1 2 too high 6 F Featured Image Admin Thumb 20K+ · 4.7★ (40) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too low 7 Syndication Links 300+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too high 8 Fourteen Colors 8K+ · 4.8★ (48) wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too low 9 QuickShare 200+ · 4.7★ (12) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too high 10 Cue by AudioTheme.com 5K+ · 4.7★ (36) wp.org #17 ↓1 7 too low 11 OpenAgenda 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 ↓1 5 too high 12 Surbma | GDPR Proof Cookie Consent & Notice Bar 500+ · 4.6★ (11) wp.org #18 ↓1 6 too low 13 Catch Web Tools 10K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #9 ↓1 4 too high 14 IndieWeb 600+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too low 15 ThemeZee Widget Bundle 5K+ · 4.8★ (4) wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too high 16 Ibtana – Ecommerce Product Addons 5K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too high 17 AR Menu Icons — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 ↓1 10 too high 18 WP Fontallic Easypromoweb 40+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too low 19 P Post Featured Font Icon 60+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too low 20 C cbnet Social Menu 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 WP Distraction Free View 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too high 22 Admidio Events 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 23 T TW Shortcodes 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓1 24 S Surbma | Premium WP 50+ · 3.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 8 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.