wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “googleapis”
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 “googleapis”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 16. 3 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
QRMenu Restaurant QR Menu Lite shows at wp.org #5 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions places #3 on merit, 4.7★ from 181 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Database Backup – Unlimited Database & Files Backup by Backup for WP 20K+ · 4.5★ (102)
wp.org #1 2 
Easy Google Adsense and Banner Ads Manager – AdsforWP 1K+ · 4.6★ (43) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions 60K+ · 4.7★ (181)
wp.org #8 5 too low 4 
Cookies and Content Security Policy 10K+ · 4.9★ (67) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 5 too low 5 
GSheets Connector 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Rankology SEO and Analytics Tool 300+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
Checkout with Zelle on Woocommerce 3K+ · 3.4★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Checkout with Cash App on WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.4★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
QQWorld Speed for China 80+ · 4.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too low 10 
GeoFlickr — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 3 too high 11 
Get Cash 400+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #10 1 too high 12 M MoeNet Public CDN 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 
Receive customer payments on Woocommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 A AutoLink 20+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 G Googleapis-to-useso 50+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 16 QRMenu Restaurant QR Menu Lite 20+ · 1.0★ (1) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 11 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.