wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google button”
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 button”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20.
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
Simple Chat Button shows at wp.org #14 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 40K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #1 2 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
XML Sitemap Generator for Google 1M+ · 4.8★ (2233)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186)
wp.org #4 ↑3 5 
Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator 100K+ · 4.7★ (620)
wp.org #6 ↑2 1 too low 6 
Call Now Button – The Free Click to Call Button for WordPress 200K+ · 4.8★ (102)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055)
wp.org #9 ↓3 2 too low 8 
Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251)
wp.org #8 ↑6 9 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129)
wp.org #7 ↑5 3 too high 11 
Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399)
wp.org #13 ↑5 2 too low 12 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too high 13 
WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373)
wp.org #17 4 too low 14 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #22 ↑1 8 too low 15 
Local Google Fonts 100K+ · 4.6★ (83)
wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too high 16 
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
AddToAny Share Buttons 300K+ · 4.7★ (1114)
wp.org #21 ↑1 4 too low 18 
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397)
wp.org #16 2 too high 19 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #23 ↑1 4 too low 20 
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 100K+ · 3.9★ (391)
wp.org #19 ↑2 1 too high 21 
Google Authenticator 20K+ · 4.3★ (135)
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 
Buttonizer – Floating Menus, Sticky Buttons, & Popup Builder 70K+ · 4.5★ (151)
wp.org #20 2 too high 23 Simple Chat Button 40K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 9 too high 24 
Buttonizer – Live Chat, AI Chatbot, Call, Chat, Contact Button 50K+ · 5.0★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.