wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “insert body class”
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 “insert body class”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
Insert Body Class Plugin for WordPress shows at wp.org #6 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Bit Form – Contact Form, Payment Forms, Multi Step Forms, Calculator & Custom Form Builder places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 259 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1916)
wp.org #1 2 
Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 300K+ · 4.9★ (2433)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Infinity23 (Formerly Tag Manager) – One Plugin That Replaces All The Rest 20K+ · 4.7★ (53)
wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too high 5 
WP Coder – Insert & Manage Code Snippets 10K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #5 6 
Page scroll to id 100K+ · 4.9★ (225)
wp.org #9 3 too low 7 
Head & Footer Code 100K+ · 5.0★ (51)
wp.org #7 8 
Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator 100K+ · 4.7★ (620)
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
Dark Mode for WP Dashboard 3K+ · 4.8★ (34)
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
Brave – Create Popup, Optins, Lead Generation, Survey, Sticky Elements & Interactive Content 20K+ · 4.8★ (209)
wp.org #20 ↑3 10 too low 11 Bit Form – Contact Form, Payment Forms, Multi Step Forms, Calculator & Custom Form Builder 10K+ · 5.0★ (259)
wp.org #23 12 too low 12 
Branda – White Label & Branding, Free Login Page Customizer 10K+ · 4.5★ (30)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
GDPR Cookie Compliance – Cookie Banner, Cookie Consent, Cookie Notice for CCPA, EU Cookie Law 300K+ · 4.6★ (205)
wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14 
WPMasterToolKit (WPMTK) – All in one plugin 5K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #14 ↑1 15 
Copy Anything to Clipboard for WordPress – Copy Button, Copy Text & Copy Code 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
Metronet Tag Manager 20K+ · 4.8★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #10 6 too high 17 
Jetpack VideoPress 7K+ · 4.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
Easy Notification Bar 9K+ · 4.6★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #18 19 
VK All in One Expansion Unit 100K+ · 4.0★ (7) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20 Insert Body Class Plugin for WordPress 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 14 too high 21 
Simple SEO Improvements 300+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #17 4 too high 22 
Campi Moduli Italiani 400+ · 4.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
crouton 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too high 24 
CFF Fitness and Health Operations 60+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 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.