wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “header widget”
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 widget”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20.
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 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 #7 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 15 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
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 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.
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #1 2 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #2 3 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1917)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Sticky Menu & Sticky Header 90K+ · 4.7★ (763)
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 
Sticky Header Effects for Elementor 300K+ · 4.5★ (69)
wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #11 ↓2 3 too low 9 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #15 6 too low 10 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #13 ↓2 3 too low 11 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #19 ↓2 8 too low 12 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 too low 13 
Header and Footer Scripts 200K+ · 4.6★ (58)
wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too high 14 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #21 7 too low 15 
Widgets for Social Photo Feed 10K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #10 5 too high 16 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
Woody Code Snippets – Insert PHP, CSS, JS, and Header/Footer Scripts 50K+ · 4.5★ (221)
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too low 18 
The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388)
wp.org #23 ↓1 5 too low 19 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #12 7 too high 20 
WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block 50K+ · 4.3★ (51)
wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too high 21 
Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.9★ (79)
wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too low 22 Header Footer Builder for Elementor 30K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 15 too high 23 
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 7 too high 24 
List Custom Taxonomy Widget 8K+ · 4.7★ (21) 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.