wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “if statements”

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 “if statements”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 4 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

Web Accessibility (formally known as Ally) – WCAG Scanning, Guided Fixes, Usability Widget shows at wp.org #8 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 500K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.9★ average from 162 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Simple Custom Post Order places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 588 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #1 2

LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #2 3

Query Monitor 200K+ · 4.9★ (470) wp.org #4 1 too low 4

WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167) wp.org #3 1 too high 5

GenerateBlocks 200K+ · 4.9★ (122) wp.org #5 6

User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238) wp.org #9 3 too low 7

Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #10 3 too low 8

Index WP MySQL For Speed 50K+ · 4.8★ (99) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 2 too high 9

AccessiYes Accessibility Widget for ADA, EAA & WCAG Readiness 20K+ · 4.8★ (36) wp.org #7 2 too high 10

Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397) wp.org #13 3 too low 11

Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588) wp.org #17 6 too low 12

Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker – WCAG, ADA, EAA and Section 508 compliance 10K+ · 4.9★ (80) not PHP-current wp.org #11 1 too high 13

Accessibility Widget by OneTap – Easy One-Click Accessibility Toolbar 60K+ · 4.9★ (80) wp.org #15 2 too low 14

Web Accessibility (formally known as Ally) – WCAG Scanning, Guided Fixes, Usability Widget 500K+ · 2.9★ (162) wp.org #8 7 too high 16

Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution – Build Your Own Amazon, eBay, Etsy 30K+ · 4.6★ (769) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #23 7 too low 17

Automatic Featured Images from Videos 6K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #18 1 too low 18 Z zipaddr-jp 50K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #16 2 too high 19

SNORDIAN's H5PxAPIkatchu 500+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #22 3 too low 20

Easy Invoice – Invoice Generator, PDF Quotes & Payments 600+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #21 1 too low 21

EDigital Accessibility Tools and Statement 40+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 7 too high 22

Disclaimify – Affiliate Disclosure / Disclaimer for WordPress 400+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #20 2 too high 23

DSGN Accessibility Audit and Statement 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24

Antispam for Elementor Forms 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #19 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.