wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google chrome”
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 chrome”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 6 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
Pdf Embed shows at wp.org #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 1146 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. 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 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #2 3 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Payment Plugins for Stripe WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.8★ (303) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
LocoAI – Auto Translate for Loco Translate 70K+ · 4.9★ (642)
wp.org #13 ↑6 7 too low 7 
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #17 10 too low 8 
DearFlip – PDF Flipbook, 3D Flipbook, PDF embed, PDF viewer 200K+ · 4.9★ (194)
wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too low 9 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too low 10 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #7 3 too high 11 WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146)
wp.org #24 13 too low 12 
Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348)
wp.org #20 8 too low 13 
Insights from Google PageSpeed 10K+ · 4.8★ (28) not PHP-current
wp.org #8 5 too high 14 
Google Analytics for WooCommerce 100K+ · 2.8★ (119) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement
wp.org #5 9 too high 15 
Dinosaur Game 1K+ · 5.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #9 6 too high 16 
Seraphinite Accelerator 50K+ · 4.8★ (476) not PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓1 7 too low 17 
Secure Copy Content Protection and Content Locking 20K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #22 ↓1 5 too low 18 
ThinkRank SEO – AI SEO Plugin for SEO & Google Search Console 20K+ · 4.9★ (36) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
FlexTable – Data Table Sync with Google Sheets 3K+ · 4.6★ (35)
wp.org #19 ↑4 20 
Embed PDF Viewer 20K+ · 4.7★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21 
Embedder for Google Reviews 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #10 11 too high 22 
Xagio SEO & AEO – AI SEO for Google Rankings & AI Visibility 10K+ · 4.9★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↓2 4 too high 23 Pdf Embed 10K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 12 too high 24 
Lightbox slider – Responsive Lightbox Gallery 3K+ · 4.7★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓3 3 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.