wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “grid view”
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 view”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 4 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
Addonify – Quick View For WooCommerce shows at wp.org #13 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. 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 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #2 3 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Post Grid Addon for Elementor 10K+ · 4.9★ (76)
wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too low 5 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
Grid/List View for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.4★ (50) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 4 too high 8 
Responsive Gallery Grid 4K+ · 4.7★ (66)
wp.org #7 ↑4 1 too high 9 
AnWP Post Grid and Post Carousel Slider for Elementor 20K+ · 4.9★ (84)
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #12 ↑2 2 too low 11 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #19 ↓1 8 too low 12 
Product Category Slider & Grid for WooCommerce – Reno Product Category 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓3 3 too high 13 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #15 ↓2 2 too low 14 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #21 ↓2 7 too low 15 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓2 8 too low 16 
Post View Count 4K+ · 4.6★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓3 5 too high 17 
Portfolio Grid – Filterable Gallery, Grid & Slider Showcase 800+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 
Video Grid 1K+ · 4.4★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓4 4 too high 19 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
CP Multi View Events Calendar 900+ · 4.3★ (46) not PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓2 2 too low 21 
Loop Grid Extender for Elementor – ACF Repeater & Smart Filters 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 3 too low 22 Addonify – Quick View For WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓4 9 too high 23 
Flexi Post Grid 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 6 too high 24 
Product List / Grid View for Woocommerce 300+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓4 8 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.