wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google id”

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 id”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 4 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

Google Analytics for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #14 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.8★ average from 119 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Maps Widget for Google Maps places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 512 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623) wp.org #2 1 too low 2

GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155) wp.org #1 1 too high 3

XML Sitemap Generator for Google 1M+ · 4.8★ (2233) wp.org #3 4

GA Google Analytics – Connect Google Analytics to WordPress 400K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #4 5

Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator 100K+ · 4.7★ (620) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6

WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) not PHP-current wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7

Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #8 ↑9 1 too low 8

Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519) wp.org #11 ↓2 3 too low 9

Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399) wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too low 10

WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759) wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11

GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 ↑3 6 too high 12

Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512) wp.org #18 ↑2 6 too low 13

WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14

reCaptcha by BestWebSoft 100K+ · 3.9★ (391) wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too low 15

Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397) heavy footprint wp.org #13 2 too high 16

Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1668) wp.org #21 5 too low 17

Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews 20K+ · 4.9★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #19 ↓4 2 too low 18

WEBKINDER Integration for Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑3 2 too high 19

Dynamic XML Sitemaps Generator for Google 20K+ · 4.7★ (47) wp.org #22 3 too low 20

WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #23 2 too low 22

Google Analytics for WooCommerce 100K+ · 2.8★ (119) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #14 8 too high 23 G Google Tag Manager 10K+ · 4.2★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too high 24

Embedder for Google Reviews 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) 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.