wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “jquery replace templates”

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 “jquery replace templates”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

WP Email Template shows at wp.org #11 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.1★ average from 35 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Strong Testimonials places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 614 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 signals wp.org

Better Find and Replace – AI-Powered Suggestions 40K+ · 4.6★ (171) wp.org #1 2

Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #2 3

Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1668) wp.org #3 4

PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 3 too low 5

CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6

jQuery Post Splitter 100+ · 4.6★ (37) wp.org #5 ↑8 1 too high 7

Custom Field Template 30K+ · 4.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #4 3 too high 8

Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276) wp.org #8 ↑6 9

Ultimate Addons for Beaver Builder (UABB) 20K+ · 5.0★ (332) wp.org #13 ↓2 4 too low 10

ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117) wp.org #10 ↑7 11

Strong Testimonials 80K+ · 4.8★ (614) wp.org #19 8 too low 12

Easy Video Player 20K+ · 4.2★ (57) wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too high 13

Infinity23 (Formerly Tag Manager) – One Plugin That Replaces All The Rest 20K+ · 4.7★ (53) wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too high 15

API KEY for Google Maps 30K+ · 4.9★ (55) wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too high 16

Options for Twenty Twenty-One 6K+ · 4.9★ (64) wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too high 17

Orbit Fox: Duplicate Page, Menu Icons, SVG Support, Cookie Notice, Custom Fonts & More 100K+ · 4.8★ (317) not PHP-current wp.org #22 5 too low 18

Variation Swatches for WooCommerce – Color, Image & Size Swatches 200K+ · 4.6★ (51) wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19

Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90) heavy footprint wp.org #20 1 too low 20

WP-Polls 40K+ · 4.2★ (136) wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21

Colorlib 404 Customizer 5K+ · 4.7★ (51) wp.org #23 ↓1 2 too low 22

WP Email Template 2K+ · 3.1★ (35) wp.org #11 ↓2 11 too high 23

Nexter Extension – Security, Performance, Code Snippets & Site Toolkit 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) heavy footprint thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑3 5 too high 24

Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.