wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “horizontal rule”
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 “horizontal rule”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Arts Horizontal Scroll for Elementor shows at wp.org #4 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 80+ 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.
Buried gem
WP Store Locator places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 312 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.7★ (248)
wp.org #1 2 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #2 3 
Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154)
wp.org #3 4 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #9 ↑1 5 too low 5 
Dynamic Pricing With Discount Rules for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.5★ (68)
wp.org #5 6 
Name Directory 2K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #14 ↑4 6 too low 9 
Easy Bootstrap Shortcode 6K+ · 4.0★ (50)
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
Photonic Gallery & Lightbox for Flickr, SmugMug & Others 10K+ · 4.8★ (193)
wp.org #16 6 too low 11 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #20 ↓4 9 too low 12 
Simple Sitemap – Responsive HTML Sitemap for WordPress 60K+ · 3.9★ (72)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
Master Slider – Responsive Touch Slider 60K+ · 4.6★ (504)
wp.org #23 10 too low 14 
Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90)
wp.org #18 4 too low 15 
Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail) 40K+ · 3.8★ (119)
wp.org #15 ↑4 16 
Tiered Pricing Table for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (104)
wp.org #21 ↓1 5 too low 17 
LLM Markdown – Markdown Endpoints for AI Agents 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #6 11 too high 18 
Admin Options Pages 500+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 8 too high 19 
Announcer – Sticky Message Banner & Notification Bar 10K+ · 4.8★ (40)
wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 
Jeg Kit for Elementor – Powerful Addons for Elementor, Widgets & Templates for WordPress 300K+ · 3.8★ (79)
wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too high 21 
Accordions – Responsive Accordion & FAQ Plugin for WordPress 1K+ · 4.6★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #17 4 too high 22 
MRW Simplified Editor 100+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 9 too high 23 Arts Horizontal Scroll for Elementor 80+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #4 19 too high 24 
Tabs Block – Responsive Gutenberg Tabs for Block Editor 700+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 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.