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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “gtag”

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 “gtag”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 2 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

OneClick WP Hello shows at wp.org #18 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Analytify – Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Google Analytics 4) 20K+ · 4.7★ (488) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 CAOS | Host Google Analytics Locally 10K+ · 4.9★ (128) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Contact Form 7 Google Analytics 7K+ · 4.8★ (12) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Lightweight Google Analytics 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Tiny gtag.js Analytics 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 2 too high 6 Analytics Tracker 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 CookieBoxs – GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent & Google Consent Mode v2 200+ · 4.4★ (5) wp.org #12 5 too low 8 HT Easy GA4 – Google Analytics WordPress Plugin 6K+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #15 7 too low 9 Analytics Head 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 WP Global Site Tag 7K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11 Web Pixel Studio Cookie Consent for EU 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 Merchant Center Reviews for WooCommerce 700+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too high 13 Easy Google Analytics Integration – DoubleDome 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 5 too high 14 CoreTech Contact Buttons, Chat, Calls & Tracking 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 3 too low 15 T Tracking for Divi 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 4 too high 16 Akash Visual Layout Builder — · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 ConsentOwl — Cookie Consent & Tracker Blocker 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 3 too high 18 Stella Cookies — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 1 too low 19 FGX Ad — Cookie preferences 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 CookieLegit 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 4 too high 21 CCD Traffic Sources 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Pro-Link Cookie Consent 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Consentinel Cookie Consent 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 OneClick WP Hello 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 6 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.