wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “info shortcode”
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 “info shortcode”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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
Info Cards – Add Text and Media in Card Layouts shows at wp.org #2 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #7 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 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.
CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236)
wp.org #1 2 
WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (856)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #4 5 
The Events Calendar Shortcode & Block 10K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
FooGallery Photo Gallery : Image, Video & Masonry Galleries 100K+ · 4.8★ (995)
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #17 10 too low 8 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #13 5 too low 9 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #16 7 too low 10 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #18 8 too low 11 
WP Plugin Info Card – Showcase Beautiful Plugin Cards, Theme Cards, and GitHub Repos Anywhere 400+ · 5.0★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #21 9 too low 13 
Cool Flipbox – Shortcode & Gutenberg Block 5K+ · 4.8★ (103)
wp.org #14 1 too low 14 
Coupon Shortcodes for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.9★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #10 4 too high 15 
Current Year, Symbols and IP Shortcode 10K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #5 10 too high 16 Info Cards – Add Text and Media in Card Layouts 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #2 14 too high 17 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Lead info with country for Contact Form 7 3K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #8 10 too high 19 
Free Cookie Notice & Consent Banner for Privacy Compliance (GDPR, CCPA, DSGVO and others) 7K+ · 4.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 R Rescue Shortcodes 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 A AffiliateWP – Affiliate Info 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
Display Server Info 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 10 too high 23 
Shortcodes and extra features for Phlox theme 80K+ · 2.1★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #19 4 too high 24 
Add infos to The Events Calendar 90+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 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.