wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google maps customization”
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 customization”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
CBX Map for Google Map & OpenStreetMap shows at wp.org #12 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 800+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
W3 Total Cache places #6 on merit, 4.4★ from 5420 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #10 4 too low 7 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 
MapSVG – Vector maps, Image maps, Google Maps 1K+ · 4.5★ (31)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #9 10 
Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews 20K+ · 4.9★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 2 too high 11 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too low 12 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Firelight Lightbox 200K+ · 4.8★ (361)
wp.org #16 ↑2 3 too low 14 
Basic Google Maps Placemarks 2K+ · 4.4★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 8 too high 15 
CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236)
wp.org #18 ↑2 3 too low 16 
Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites 500K+ · 4.8★ (165)
wp.org #14 ↑1 2 too high 17 
EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) not PHP-current
wp.org #17 18 
OAuth Single Sign On – SSO (OAuth Client) 6K+ · 4.9★ (327)
wp.org #22 ↓5 4 too low 19 
Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) heavy footprint
wp.org #20 ↑3 1 too low 20 
Agile Store Locator 10K+ · 4.9★ (59) not PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↑3 1 too high 21 
MetForm – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Conditional Forms, Form Templates & Custom Form Builder for Elementor 500K+ · 4.7★ (509) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Analytics Insights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (34) not PHP-current
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 CBX Map for Google Map & OpenStreetMap 800+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 11 too high 24 
MapifyLite (by MapifyPro) 300+ · 4.4★ (5) heavy footprint 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.