wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “insert js”
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 js”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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 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
Easy p5.js Block shows at wp.org #10 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 200+ 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.
Buried gem
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 1680 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.
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915)
wp.org #1 2 
Woody Code Snippets – Insert PHP, CSS, JS, and Header/Footer Scripts 50K+ · 4.5★ (221) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
Insert PHP Code Snippet 90K+ · 4.9★ (707)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 I Insert Pages 30K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Insert Html Snippet 20K+ · 4.9★ (237)
wp.org #5 6 
Insert Headers And Footers 200K+ · 5.0★ (135)
wp.org #6 7 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Clearfy Cache – WordPress optimization plugin, Minify HTML, CSS & JS, Defer 40K+ · 4.7★ (339)
wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too low 9 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #17 ↑1 8 too low 10 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #16 ↓2 6 too low 11 
WP Coder – Insert & Manage Code Snippets 10K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too low 13 
SVG Support 1M+ · 4.8★ (356)
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15 
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↑2 4 too low 16 
Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) not PHP-current
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Insert Headers and Footers Code – HT Script 7K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #7 10 too high 18 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
JS Categories List Widget 1K+ · 4.8★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 7 too high 20 
Header and Footer Scripts 200K+ · 4.6★ (58)
wp.org #20 ↓4 21 C Clear Cache for Me 40K+ · 4.8★ (29)
wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too low 22 
Age Gate Lite 2K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23 C CSS JS Files 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 12 too high 24 Easy p5.js Block 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #10 14 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.