wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “last post”
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 “last post”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 4 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
Admin Dashboard Last Edits shows at wp.org #11 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 900+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #7 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 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.
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too low 2 
Yoast Duplicate Post 3M+ · 4.7★ (538) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 ↑1 1 too high 3 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1237)
wp.org #6 ↑5 2 too low 5 
When Last Login 40K+ · 4.7★ (37)
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (855)
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #14 ↑1 7 too low 8 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too high 9 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too high 10 
Duplicate Post 300K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #16 ↓3 6 too low 11 
WP Popular Posts 100K+ · 4.5★ (249)
wp.org #13 ↓4 2 too low 12 
AnWP Post Grid and Post Carousel Slider for Elementor 20K+ · 4.9★ (84)
wp.org #18 6 too low 13 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #20 7 too low 14 B bbp last post 200+ · 5.0★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #5 9 too high 15 
Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail) 40K+ · 3.8★ (119) not PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↑4 3 too high 16 
Post Slider and Post Carousel with Post Vertical Scrolling Widget – A Responsive Post Slider 10K+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17 A ACF Post-2-Post 3K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #17 18 
List Last Changes 1K+ · 4.8★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #10 8 too high 19 
Latest Post Shortcode 4K+ · 4.8★ (46)
wp.org #23 ↓1 4 too low 20 
Related Posts By PickPlugins 3K+ · 4.6★ (39)
wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too low 21 Admin Dashboard Last Edits 900+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 10 too high 22 
Last Modified Timestamp 6K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #24 ↓3 2 too low 23 
Post Pay Counter 1K+ · 4.8★ (46) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24 
Solid Post Likes 500+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 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.