wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google maps api callback”

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 maps api callback”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 7 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

Connect Elementor Forms to Google Sheets Addon shows at wp.org #10 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 700+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 1322 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

API KEY for Google Maps 30K+ · 4.9★ (55) wp.org #1 2

Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172) wp.org #4 2 too low 3

The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #5 2 too low 4

MapGeo – Interactive Geo Maps 30K+ · 4.4★ (65) wp.org #3 1 too high 5

WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #2 3 too high 6

Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7

EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) not PHP-current wp.org #6 1 too high 8

OAuth Single Sign On – SSO (OAuth Client) 6K+ · 4.9★ (327) wp.org #8 ↓1 9

LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #9 10

PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322) wp.org #21 ↓2 11 too low 11

SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134) wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too low 12

Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) not PHP-current wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too low 13

Redux Framework 900K+ · 4.4★ (273) wp.org #13 ↓3 14

Kikote – Location Picker at Checkout & Google Address AutoFill Plugin for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 ↓2 3 too high 15

Address Autocomplete Anything – Google Address Autocomplete for Any Form 900+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #12 3 too high 16

Waymark 900+ · 5.0★ (54) wp.org #22 ↓11 6 too low 17

Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #16 ↓3 1 too high 18

Enable Abilities for MCP 5K+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too high 19

CMB2 300K+ · 5.0★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too high 20

Connect Elementor Forms to Google Sheets Addon 700+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓2 10 too high 21

WooReer 1K+ · 4.1★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓1 3 too low 22

WooPayments: Integrated WooCommerce Payments 800K+ · 3.4★ (177) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23

WPSyncSheets For Gravity Forms – Connect Gravity Forms to Google Sheets 200+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑4 3 too high 24

bpost-shipping-platform 500+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓3 1 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.