wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google analytics annotations”
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 “google analytics annotations”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 5 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
Simple Analytics shows at wp.org #5 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
DearFlip – PDF Flipbook, 3D Flipbook, PDF embed, PDF viewer places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 194 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) 200K+ · 2.5★ (1546) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) not PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 
Connect Matomo – Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (95) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Embed Plus for YouTube Gallery, Livestream and Lazy Loading with Facades 100K+ · 4.6★ (572)
wp.org #12 ↑1 6 too low 7 
Lazy Load for Videos 9K+ · 4.4★ (105) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↑2 2 too low 8 
AMP WP – Google AMP For WordPress 600+ · 4.5★ (55)
wp.org #10 ↑2 2 too low 9 DearFlip – PDF Flipbook, 3D Flipbook, PDF embed, PDF viewer 200K+ · 4.9★ (194)
wp.org #17 ↓1 8 too low 10 
PDF Poster – Let visitors read PDF’s without leaving the page 20K+ · 4.5★ (149) not PHP-current
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 
GSheetConnector – WooCommerce Google Sheets Connector, Export Orders & Products to Google Sheets in Real-Time 3K+ · 5.0★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑1 4 too high 12 
3D Viewer – Turn Product Pages into Interactive 3D Experiences 9K+ · 4.7★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑4 1 too low 13 
PushEngage – Web Push Notifications, WooCommerce Automation & Chat Widget 8K+ · 4.3★ (37)
wp.org #18 ↑1 5 too low 14 Simple Analytics 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #5 9 too high 15 
Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 
CookieBoxs – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent & Google Consent Mode v2 200+ · 4.4★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↑1 8 too high 17 
Polski for WooCommerce 60+ · 4.8★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too high 18 
Smalk AI Analytics 40+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 7 too high 19 
AR for WordPress 300+ · 4.6★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 20 
Plover Kit – Blocks, Patterns, Responsive Layout and Gutenberg Editor Enhancements 3K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑3 5 too high 21 
Ultimate Form – Multi-Step Form Builder, Conversion Analytics & Lead Forms 60+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too low 22 
SFR Analytics 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
Chartsy 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
Matomo Site Kit 30+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑2 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.