wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “json feed”
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 “json feed”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
Import XML and RSS Feeds shows at wp.org #9 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.8★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
The Events Calendar places #12 on merit, 4.2★ from 2461 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.
Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.7★ (1071)
wp.org #1 2 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Feed Them Social – Social Media Feeds, Video, and Photo Galleries 20K+ · 4.7★ (639)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Get Use APIs – JSON Content Importer 5K+ · 4.9★ (78)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6 
Spotlight Social Photo Feed 60K+ · 4.7★ (171)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – RexFeed – Sell on 200+ Shopping Channels 10K+ · 4.8★ (256) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 
WP RSS Aggregator – RSS Import, Feed to Post, Autoblogging, AI Content 40K+ · 4.5★ (565)
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #13 4 too low 10 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too low 11 
WPeMatico RSS Feed Fetcher 10K+ · 4.8★ (514) not PHP-current
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #19 ↑1 7 too low 13 
Include Mastodon Feed 800+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #8 5 too high 14 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #22 ↑2 8 too low 15 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
Social Slider Feed – Social Media Feed & Gallery Widgets 10K+ · 3.9★ (127)
wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too high 17 
Buttonizer – Social Media Share Buttons, Social Icons, & Social Feeds 40K+ · 4.8★ (396) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too low 18 Import XML and RSS Feeds 2K+ · 3.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #9 9 too high 19 
Houzez Property Feed 1K+ · 4.7★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #10 9 too high 20 
Automatic YouTube Gallery – Embed Auto-Updating YouTube Video Galleries, Feeds, Playlists & Channels 9K+ · 4.8★ (31)
wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too low 21 
Content Egg – Affiliate Product Importer & Price Comparison 10K+ · 3.9★ (56) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Feeds for Pinterest – Turn Your Boards into a Beautiful Gallery 200+ · 4.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 5 too high 23 
RSS Feed Pro 400+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too high 24 
WP-API JSON Feed 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 8 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.