wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “hide layout”
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 “hide layout”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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
Post Layouts shows at wp.org #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 900+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 1623 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too high 4 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
WP Blog Post Layouts 9K+ · 4.7★ (83)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #10 ↓2 4 too low 7 Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #13 ↑6 6 too low 8 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #8 ↑9 2 too high 11 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #14 ↓2 3 too low 12 
Gravity Booster – Styles & Layouts for Gravity Forms 30K+ · 4.6★ (199)
wp.org #12 ↓1 13 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #17 ↓4 4 too low 14 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #18 ↓2 4 too low 15 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #20 ↑2 5 too low 16 
Hide Admin Bar Based on User Roles – Disable the WordPress Toolbar by Role or Capability 20K+ · 3.9★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #6 10 too high 17 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #24 ↓1 6 too low 19 
GDPR Cookie Compliance – Cookie Banner, Cookie Consent, Cookie Notice for CCPA, EU Cookie Law 300K+ · 4.6★ (205)
wp.org #21 ↓7 2 too low 20 
Product Layouts for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓9 4 too high 21 
Gallery Block by Galleryberg: Lightbox with Tiles, Masonry, Square, & Justified Layouts 2K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 
Hide Category by User Role for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.3★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 Post Layouts 900+ · 4.5★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 12 too high 24 
Info Cards – Add Text and Media in Card Layouts 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 5 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.