wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “genesis theme”
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 theme”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 2 plugins are 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
Genesis Portfolio Pro shows at wp.org #9 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Fonts Plugin | Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts & Upload Fonts places #6 on merit, 5.0★ from 1221 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.
Genesis eNews Extended 40K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #1 2 
Genesis Simple Hooks 20K+ · 4.6★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #2 3 
Genesis Blocks 40K+ · 3.7★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #3 4 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #10 6 too low 5 
Genesis Simple Share 10K+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #5 6 Fonts Plugin | Google Fonts, Adobe Fonts & Upload Fonts 200K+ · 5.0★ (1221) heavy footprint
wp.org #16 10 too low 7 
Genesis Simple Menus 2K+ · 4.8★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #17 9 too low 9 
Genesis Custom Blocks 10K+ · 4.5★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
Genesis Simple Sidebars 10K+ · 4.4★ (27)
wp.org #8 2 too high 11 
Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) not PHP-current
wp.org #19 8 too low 12 
Genesis Connect for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.1★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #6 6 too high 13 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #13 1 too high 15 
WP Responsive Menu 30K+ · 4.3★ (100)
wp.org #22 7 too low 16 
Fullwidth Templates for Any Theme & Page Builder 20K+ · 4.7★ (42)
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint
wp.org #21 4 too low 18 
Osom Author Pro 1K+ · 4.9★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
Genesis Widget Column Classes 5K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #11 8 too high 20 
SEO Data Transporter 2K+ · 4.4★ (31)
wp.org #23 ↑1 3 too low 21 
Sky Addons for Elementor – 160+ Widgets, GSAP Animations, Templates & Theme Builder 2K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Genesis Portfolio Pro 5K+ · 4.5★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #9 13 too high 23 
Ads for Genesis 200+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 11 too high 24 
Genesis Taxonomy Images 50+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 4 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.