wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “google widget”
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 widget”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget shows at wp.org #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 900+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 10 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 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #2 3 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #3 4 
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157)
wp.org #4 5 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #5 6 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #6 7 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #7 ↑2 8 
Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator 100K+ · 4.7★ (620)
wp.org #8 ↓1 9 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055)
wp.org #12 ↓4 2 too low 11 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #14 ↓2 3 too low 12 
Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251)
wp.org #13 ↑10 1 too low 13 
GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129)
wp.org #11 ↑3 2 too high 14 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #19 ↓4 5 too low 15 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #21 ↓4 6 too low 16 
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #15 ↓2 1 too high 17 
WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373)
wp.org #20 ↓2 3 too low 18 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #16 ↑4 2 too high 19 
Reviews Widgets for Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp & Recommendations 10K+ · 4.9★ (326)
wp.org #24 ↓2 5 too low 20 
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397)
wp.org #22 ↓3 2 too low 21 GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑1 11 too high 22 
Widgets for Social Photo Feed 10K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #17 ↑4 5 too high 23 
Simple Google Calendar Outlook Events Widget 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 5 too high 24 
Widgets for Google Reviews and Ratings 3K+ · 4.2★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #23 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.