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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “keyboard practice”

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

Slider and Carousel Block – Responsive, Accessible shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 900+ 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

Quiz Maker by AYS places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 601 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) wp.org #1 2 The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) wp.org #2 3 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962) wp.org #3 4 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #4 5 User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238) wp.org #5 6 CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 HD Quiz 6K+ · 4.9★ (145) wp.org #6 1 too high 8 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #11 ↓4 3 too low 9 WP Accessibility Helper (WAH) 10K+ · 4.7★ (57) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #18 8 too low 11 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #17 ↑4 6 too low 12 GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too high 13 Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.8★ (80) wp.org #13 ↓1 14 FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30) wp.org #20 ↓4 6 too low 15 Telegram Bot & Channel 500+ · 4.8★ (22) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 XCompliant – Accessibility Scan & Audit 200+ · 4.7★ (31) wp.org #21 ↓3 5 too low 17 Editoria11y Accessibility Checker 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #19 ↓2 2 too low 18 Accessibility Tool Kit: WP Accessibility checker plugin for WCAG, Section 508, ADA, EAA Compliance 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #22 ↓3 4 too low 19 Search Modal Block 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20 Accessible Carousel & Slider – WCAG AA Compliant Slideshow 500+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21 Slider and Carousel Block – Responsive, Accessible 900+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↑1 12 too high 22 Post Word Counter – Content Insights Dashboard 200+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓3 1 too low 23 Logo Slider – Infinite Carousel & Marquee Block 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24 Zen Addons for SiteOrigin Page Builder 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↓1 12 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.