wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “header code”
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 “header code”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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
Header Footer Builder for Elementor shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 30K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Sticky Menu & Sticky Header places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 763 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.
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915)
wp.org #2 3 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #5 6 
Sticky Header Effects for Elementor 300K+ · 4.5★ (69)
wp.org #6 7 
Woody Code Snippets – Insert PHP, CSS, JS, and Header/Footer Scripts 50K+ · 4.5★ (221) not PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑2 8 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #10 ↑4 2 too low 9 Sticky Menu & Sticky Header 90K+ · 4.7★ (763)
wp.org #16 ↓4 7 too low 10 
Header and Footer Scripts 200K+ · 4.6★ (58)
wp.org #8 2 too high 11 
Insert Headers And Footers 200K+ · 5.0★ (135)
wp.org #13 ↓2 2 too low 12 
Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58)
wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too high 13 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #19 ↑2 6 too low 14 
HTTP Headers 40K+ · 4.3★ (70)
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Head, Footer and Post Injections 200K+ · 4.9★ (735) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓3 5 too low 16 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓4 2 too high 17 W WP Display Header 7K+ · 4.5★ (27)
wp.org #12 ↑3 5 too high 18 U Unique Headers 10K+ · 4.9★ (160) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓3 3 too low 19 
Code Block Pro – Beautiful Syntax Highlighting 10K+ · 4.8★ (50)
wp.org #23 ↓3 4 too low 20 
WP Header Images 4K+ · 4.4★ (35)
wp.org #18 2 too high 21 Header Footer Builder for Elementor 30K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓2 12 too high 22 
Code Embed 10K+ · 4.4★ (45) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23 
Insert Headers and Footers Code – HT Script 7K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓3 1 too high 24 
NinjaTeam Header Footer Custom Code 200+ · 3.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 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.