wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “import”
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 “import”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 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
Advanced Import shows at wp.org #5 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 80K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 4940 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #1 2 
WP All Import – Drag & Drop Import for CSV, XML, Excel & Google Sheets 100K+ · 4.7★ (1966)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
One Click Demo Import 1M+ · 4.3★ (79) host-installed base
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Export and Import Users and Customers 50K+ · 4.8★ (442)
wp.org #6 ↑2 2 too low 5 
Product Import Export for WooCommerce – CSV Product Importer & Exporter 80K+ · 4.6★ (413)
wp.org #8 ↓2 3 too low 6 
Customizer Export/Import 100K+ · 4.8★ (115)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.7★ (337)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
WP All Import – Product Import for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (276)
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7520)
wp.org #15 ↓2 6 too low 10 
WP Import Export Lite 40K+ · 4.0★ (113)
wp.org #10 ↑5 11 
WP All Import – Import Add-On for ACF 50K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #4 7 too high 12 Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940)
wp.org #22 10 too low 13 
WP RSS Aggregator – RSS Import, Feed to Post, Autoblogging, AI Content 40K+ · 4.5★ (565)
wp.org #21 ↓4 8 too low 14 Advanced Import 80K+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #5 9 too high 15 
Comments Import & Export 2K+ · 4.9★ (68)
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 
Import Users from CSV 10K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #14 2 too high 17 
Import Social Events 3K+ · 4.8★ (116)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Import / Export Customizer Settings 50K+ · 4.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 5 too high 19 
WP All Import – Import SEO Settings for Rank Math SEO 6K+ · 4.5★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 7 too high 20 
WP All Import – Import SEO Settings for Yoast SEO 20K+ · 2.8★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 2 too high 21 
WP All Import – Import SEO Settings for All In One SEO 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑2 2 too high 22 
WP All Import – Job Listing Import for WP Job Manager 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23 
Ansar Import – Starter Sites & Template Library 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too high 24 H Hoot Import 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.