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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “internationalization”

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 “internationalization”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 5 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

Magical Blocks – Elementor Style Blocks for Gutenberg shows at wp.org #9 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 900+ 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

Embed Plus for YouTube Gallery, Livestream and Lazy Loading with Facades places #8 on merit, 4.6★ from 572 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Performant Translations 30K+ · 4.9★ (16) wp.org #1 2 The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) wp.org #3 ↑6 1 too low 3 Hreflang Manager – Hreflang Implementation for International SEO 8K+ · 4.7★ (9) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Preferred Languages 3K+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #4 ↓1 5 FG Drupal to WordPress 700+ · 4.6★ (111) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 FG PrestaShop to WooCommerce 800+ · 4.7★ (125) wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 Easy Appointments 10K+ · 4.3★ (131) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 Embed Plus for YouTube Gallery, Livestream and Lazy Loading with Facades 100K+ · 4.6★ (572) wp.org #13 ↑3 5 too low 9 Plugin Check (PCP) 10K+ · 4.5★ (36) wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too high 10 FG OpenCart to WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #10 11 PDF.js Viewer 20K+ · 4.4★ (53) wp.org #16 ↑2 5 too low 12 Affiliate Super Assistent 1K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #14 ↑1 2 too low 13 Rencontre – Dating Site 200+ · 3.8★ (49) wp.org #12 ↑10 1 too high 14 Magical Shop Builder – WooCommerce Template Builder for Elementor | Shop, Cart, Checkout & Product Page Builder 3K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #20 ↓3 6 too low 15 FoxyShop 70+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #18 3 too low 16 S SFN Easy FAQ Manager 2K+ · 4.4★ (12) wp.org #19 ↑1 3 too low 17 Translation Stats 10+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #21 4 too low 18 Language Switcher 1K+ · 4.0★ (7) wp.org #17 ↓3 1 too high 19 MailCamp 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #11 ↑1 8 too high 20 Magical Blocks – Elementor Style Blocks for Gutenberg 900+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 ↑2 11 too high 21 HREFLANG Tags Management By Webnow 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↓2 6 too high 22 Suffice Toolkit 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 Press3D 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 24 Ultimate Carousel For Divi 700+ · 3.4★ (5) 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.