wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “html proofing”

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 “html proofing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 17. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

FotoGrids – Photo & Video Galleries, Lightboxes, Sliders & More shows at wp.org #11 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Timeline Express places #7 on merit, 4.3★ from 165 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery 300K+ · 4.3★ (4342) wp.org #1 2

FooGallery Photo Gallery : Image, Video & Masonry Galleries 100K+ · 4.8★ (995) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Envira Gallery – Image Photo Gallery, Albums, Video Gallery, Slideshows & More 100K+ · 4.7★ (1597) wp.org #4 1 too low 4

picu – Online Photo Proofing Gallery 2K+ · 4.7★ (55) wp.org #2 2 too high 5

Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616) wp.org #5 6

Gallery by Visual Portfolio 50K+ · 4.8★ (340) wp.org #6 7

Timeline Express 8K+ · 4.3★ (165) closure risk wp.org #15 8 too low 8 H hRecipe 60+ · 4.7★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 9 too low 9 P Proofing Pins — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 10

QuickReviewer HTML Review Plugin 60+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #7 3 too high 11

DriveHub – Google Drive Integration | File Manager, Image Gallery & Media Library 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #8 3 too high 12

Gallery for Google Photos – share your albums right on your site 1K+ · 2.7★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #10 2 too high 13

Forma Grid Gallery — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 1 too high 14

Wiki Blocks — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 15

Testimonial or Reviews 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 1 too low 16

FotoGrids – Photo & Video Galleries, Lightboxes, Sliders & More 400+ · 1.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #11 5 too high 17

WP Rocket | Simple LoadCSS Preloader 4K+ · 1.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 4 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.