wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “jquery version”
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 version”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 3 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 PHP Version Display shows at wp.org #13 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Translate WordPress with GTranslate places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 4962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Jquery Validation For Contact Form 7 8K+ · 4.6★ (87)
wp.org #2 3 
jQuery Smooth Scroll 10K+ · 4.5★ (47)
wp.org #3 4 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 
WP Armour – Honeypot Anti Spam 400K+ · 5.0★ (1472)
wp.org #12 6 too low 7 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #14 7 too low 8 
LightPress Lightbox 40K+ · 4.6★ (72) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #15 6 too low 10 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
Page scroll to id 100K+ · 4.9★ (225) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 1 too high 12 
jQuery Post Splitter 100+ · 4.6★ (37)
wp.org #8 4 too high 13 T Test jQuery Updates 1K+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #4 9 too high 14 
JS Archive List 3K+ · 4.8★ (45)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
JS Categories List Widget 1K+ · 4.8★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #11 4 too high 16 
Make Column Clickable for Elementor 100K+ · 4.9★ (53)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Version Control for jQuery 5K+ · 4.9★ (7) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 10 too high 18 
Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP 100K+ · 4.5★ (252) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 19 
Image CAPTCHA for Contact Form 7 and WPForms by HookAndHook (DSGVO/GDPR) 70K+ · 4.7★ (49)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress 30K+ · 4.3★ (69)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
CMB2 300K+ · 5.0★ (91) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 
WP Sort Order 6K+ · 4.5★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #22 23 
SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) host-installed base
wp.org #23 24 WP PHP Version Display 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #13 11 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.