wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “humor”

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 “humor”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 6 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

Simple Login Custom shows at wp.org #8 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) not PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Photo Contest | Competition | Video Contest 200+ · 4.5★ (19) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #2 3 T The Dude 20+ · 5.0★ (7) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #9 6 too low 4

Papy3D Fact Viewer for Chuck365 — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 1 too high 5

JokeShogun – Random Jokes in Admin Dashboard — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 1 too high 6

GroanDeck Dad Jokes — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 1 too high 7

Reviewer 2 Academic Rejection Stamps & Verdict Widgets — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 1 too high 8 D Dad Jokes Generator — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #7 1 too high 9

Hello Obi-Wan 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 3 too low 10

Polymetric AI Search Optimizer – Answer Engine Optimization & GEO for ChatGPT and AI Overviews 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 11 T Twitter Hashtag Blaster 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 4 too low 12 S Simple Login Custom 10+ · 5.0★ (1) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #8 4 too high 13 H Howdy Against Humanity 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 4 too low 14

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.