wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google buttons”
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 buttons”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
Local Google Fonts shows at wp.org #12 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.6★ average from 83 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 #5 ↑1 6 
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055)
wp.org #9 ↓4 3 too low 7 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251)
wp.org #7 ↑6 1 too high 9 
GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129)
wp.org #6 ↑6 3 too high 10 
Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399)
wp.org #13 ↓2 3 too low 11 
Simple Social Media Share Buttons – Social Sharing for Everyone 20K+ · 4.8★ (194)
wp.org #11 ↓2 12 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #10 ↑7 2 too high 13 
Simple Share Buttons Adder 40K+ · 4.3★ (627)
wp.org #14 1 too low 14 
WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373)
wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16 
AddToAny Share Buttons 300K+ · 4.7★ (1114)
wp.org #20 ↑1 4 too low 17 Local Google Fonts 100K+ · 4.6★ (83)
wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too high 18 
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #15 3 too high 19 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #22 ↑2 3 too low 20 
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397)
wp.org #16 4 too high 21 
reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 100K+ · 3.9★ (391)
wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 
Google Authenticator 20K+ · 4.3★ (135)
wp.org #18 ↑1 4 too high 23 
API KEY for Google Maps 30K+ · 4.9★ (55)
wp.org #23 24 
Dynamic XML Sitemaps Generator for Google 20K+ · 4.7★ (47)
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.