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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “gmap api”

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 “gmap api”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 3 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

PixTypes shows at wp.org #10 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Gmap Block 10K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 Simple Shortcode for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.6★ (46) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Track Geolocation Of Users Using Contact Form 7 800+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too high 5 Simple Event Planner 1K+ · 4.3★ (23) wp.org #11 ↑1 6 too low 6 C Contact Form 7 extension for Google Map fields 500+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #13 7 too low 7 Office Locator 30+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 8 GMap Targeting – Simple Targeting Inside Google Maps 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 ↓1 4 too high 9 Map Engine – Google Maps and Open Street Maps for WordPress 100+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #15 6 too low 10 Lazy Load for GMaps 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 5 too high 11 Location Module (Lite) for Contact Form 7 100+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #17 6 too low 12 Smart GEO GMap 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme 80K+ · 2.1★ (7) wp.org #9 ↑1 4 too high 14 MRZ Maps Exp — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↓3 2 too high 15 Lite Google Map 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 4 too low 16 A Arastoo GMap Extended — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 2 too high 17 Mage Google Maps 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 5 too low 18 G GMaps Google Maps Shortcode — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 19 LB GMaps — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 WP Leaflet Mapper 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 4 too high 21 My Hitchhiking Spot Travel Map (MHS Travel Map) 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 22 Nearby Places Search 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Simple Google Maps Widget — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 PixTypes 9K+ · 2.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↑1 14 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.