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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “jetpack markdown”

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 “jetpack markdown”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Bristlecone Markdown shows at wp.org #6 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its — 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

CoSchedule places #10 on merit, 4.6★ from 188 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #1 2 Enlighter – Customizable Syntax Highlighter 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #2 3 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 Blank Footnotes 300+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 Comet Cache 20K+ · 4.4★ (108) wp.org #11 ↓3 5 too low 7 Gutenberg Block Editor Toolkit – EditorsKit 20K+ · 4.6★ (176) wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too low 8 AMP WP – Google AMP For WordPress 600+ · 4.5★ (55) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 OpenStation – Admin Dashboard Notes, Custom Dashboard, AI Assistant & PWA 1K+ · 5.0★ (23) wp.org #9 10 CoSchedule 3K+ · 4.6★ (188) wp.org #17 ↓2 7 too low 11 Hostinger Tools 3M+ · 3.5★ (40) wp.org #4 7 too high 12 Toolbelt 300+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #13 ↓2 1 too low 13 ALD – Dropshipping and Fulfillment for AliExpress and WooCommerce 8K+ · 3.7★ (138) wp.org #19 ↓2 6 too low 14 MRW Simplified Editor 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #7 7 too high 15 Falcon – Cache, Performance, Security, Cleanup, and Tweaks 2K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #14 ↓2 1 too high 16 Bristlecone Markdown — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 10 too high 17 ct4gg — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↓2 2 too high 18 VideoWhisper Light Cookie Consent — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too high 19 AI Rank Suite — AI Search, llms.txt, Schema & SEO — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓2 2 too low 20 A.N.R.GHG Publishing Toolkit 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓2 2 too low 21 LP Software – Schema & Structured Data Optimization — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 2 too low 22 AEO Engine 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↓2 2 too high 23 GetAutoSEO AI Tool 2K+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #18 ↓2 5 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.