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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “interactive image map”

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 “interactive image map”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 2 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

ImageLinks – Interactive Image Builder with Hotspots shows at wp.org #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.9★ average from 9 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Maps Widget for Google Maps places #11 on merit, 4.6★ from 512 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Interactive Image Map Plugin – Draw Attention 20K+ · 4.9★ (114) wp.org #1 2 Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 Interactive Image Map Builder 1K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 MapGeo – Interactive Geo Maps 30K+ · 4.4★ (65) wp.org #5 6 Leaflet Map 30K+ · 4.9★ (58) wp.org #7 ↑2 1 too low 7 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) wp.org #9 ↓2 2 too low 8 Vision – Interactive Image Map with Hotspots Builder 2K+ · 4.9★ (9) wp.org #4 ↓1 4 too high 9 Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #14 5 too low 10 Featured Image from URL (FIFU) 60K+ · 4.6★ (264) wp.org #15 5 too low 11 Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512) wp.org #19 ↓2 8 too low 12 Image Hotspot – Map Image Annotation 3K+ · 4.9★ (22) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680) wp.org #24 ↓2 11 too low 14 WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88) wp.org #17 3 too low 15 MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147) wp.org #20 ↓2 5 too low 16 MapSVG – Vector maps, Image maps, Google Maps 1K+ · 4.5★ (31) wp.org #12 4 too high 17 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #11 6 too high 18 Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) wp.org #22 ↑1 4 too low 19 WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) wp.org #18 ↓2 1 too high 20 Travelers' Map 1K+ · 5.0★ (46) wp.org #23 ↓10 3 too low 21 ImageLinks – Interactive Image Builder with Hotspots 1K+ · 3.9★ (9) wp.org #10 11 too high 22 PicPoints – Interactive Image Map & Hotspot Builder 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 ↑2 9 too high 23 Interactive US Map – Create Clickable & Customizable U.S. Maps 200+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #21 ↓7 2 too high 24 GPX Route Map 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 ↑4 8 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.