wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “grid plugin”
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 “grid plugin”, 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
Classic Blog Grid shows at wp.org #15 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder places #12 on merit, 4.5★ from 7323 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #1 2 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #2 3 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6 
Post Grid Addon for Elementor 10K+ · 4.9★ (76)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid 20K+ · 4.7★ (353) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too high 8 
AnWP Post Grid and Post Carousel Slider for Elementor 20K+ · 4.9★ (84)
wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #9 ↓1 10 
Product Category Slider & Grid for WooCommerce – Reno Product Category 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too high 11 
Responsive Gallery Grid 4K+ · 4.7★ (66)
wp.org #11 ↓1 12 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too low 13 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #24 ↓1 11 too low 14 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15 
Gallery PhotoBlocks 3K+ · 5.0★ (76)
wp.org #21 ↓1 6 too low 16 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too high 17 
WP Ultimate Post Grid 4K+ · 4.4★ (32) heavy footprint
wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too high 18 
Video Grid 1K+ · 4.4★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 
Portfolio Grid – Filterable Gallery, Grid & Slider Showcase 800+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #19 ↓1 20 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21 
WP Plugin Manager – Deactivate plugins per page 3K+ · 4.4★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too high 22 
Grid Shortcodes 2K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 23 
Flexi Post Grid 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 Classic Blog Grid 3K+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 9 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.