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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “genesis columns shortcode”

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 “genesis columns shortcode”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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

Glossary Tooltip – Highlight Terms & Show Tooltips shows at wp.org #13 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP Last Modified Info places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 856 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #1 2 Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418) wp.org #2 3 Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) wp.org #3 ↑2 4 Logo Carousel – Responsive Logo Slider, Logo Showcase, and Clients Logo Gallery 20K+ · 4.7★ (162) wp.org #4 ↓1 5 Product Slider, Product Carousel and Product Grid Gallery for WooCommerce – Reno Product Slider (formerly Product Slider for WooCommerce) 20K+ · 4.7★ (280) wp.org #5 ↓1 6 Logo Slider – Logo Showcase, Logo Carousel, Logo Gallery and Client Logo Presentation 30K+ · 4.7★ (252) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Team Members – A WordPress Team Plugin with Gallery, Grid, Carousel, Slider, Table, List, and More 2K+ · 4.7★ (91) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (856) wp.org #16 ↓1 8 too low 9 Pricing Table WordPress Plugin – Easy Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.3★ (133) wp.org #9 10 Genesis Columns Advanced 10K+ · 4.8★ (25) wp.org #6 4 too high 11 Solid Testimonials – Testimonial Slider, Video Testimonials & Customer Reviews 1K+ · 4.3★ (35) wp.org #10 1 too high 12 Header Footer for Beaver Builder 10K+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #12 ↓1 13 Display Featured Image for Genesis 1K+ · 4.9★ (33) wp.org #19 6 too low 14 FancyTube – Video Gallery, Video Slider, and Playlist Slider for YouTube 1K+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too high 15 MyBookTable Bookstore by Stormhill Media 1K+ · 3.8★ (41) wp.org #15 ↓2 16 Audio Album 4K+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 Social Rocket – Social Sharing Plugin 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #20 3 too low 18 Project Showcase – Responsive Portfolio, Case Studies & Filterable Grid Layouts 200+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #14 ↑2 4 too high 19 Sky Addons for Elementor – 160+ Widgets, GSAP Animations, Templates & Theme Builder 2K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #21 2 too low 20 GS Posts Grid – Recent Posts, Category Posts, Post Filter, Slider & List 100+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 Glossary Tooltip – Highlight Terms & Show Tooltips 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 ↑1 8 too high 22 Custom Code 100+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #22 23 T Tailored Tools 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓3 24 GS Coach – Professional Team Showcase for Coaches & Consultants 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓3

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.