wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “jquery ui”
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 ui”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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 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
Test jQuery Updates shows at wp.org #9 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #9 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #1 2 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 J jQuery Updater 20K+ · 4.5★ (64)
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Jquery Validation For Contact Form 7 8K+ · 4.6★ (87)
wp.org #4 5 
WP Datepicker 6K+ · 4.8★ (37)
wp.org #5 ↑10 6 
CMB2 300K+ · 5.0★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓1 7 
Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress 30K+ · 4.3★ (69)
wp.org #11 ↓2 4 too low 8 
Zotpress 2K+ · 4.9★ (66)
wp.org #13 ↓2 5 too low 9 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #23 ↑1 14 too low 10 
jQuery Post Splitter 100+ · 4.6★ (37)
wp.org #10 ↑6 11 
WP Sort Order 6K+ · 4.5★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too high 12 
WC Fields Factory 7K+ · 4.3★ (168)
wp.org #17 ↑1 5 too low 13 
Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #22 9 too low 14 
JS Archive List 3K+ · 4.8★ (45)
wp.org #16 ↓3 2 too low 15 
Flexy Breadcrumb 10K+ · 4.7★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓2 1 too high 16 
Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90) heavy footprint
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Responsive UI for Beaver Builder 300+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 10 too high 18 
Bulk Order Form for WooCommerce 800+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too high 19 
WPSyncSheets For WooCommerce – Import & Export Orders, Products, Customers & Coupons to Google Sheets in Real-Time 600+ · 5.0★ (27)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 T Test jQuery Updates 1K+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 11 too high 21 
teachPress 2K+ · 4.8★ (25) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too high 22 
Custom Datepicker NMR 1K+ · 4.6★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 10 too high 23 P Posts filter multiselect 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too high 24 
Click to top 2K+ · 2.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #19 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.