wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “last update”
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 update”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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
Disable Updates for WordPress Core, Plugins and Themes shows at wp.org #8 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 1281 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.
WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (855)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
WP Last Login 10K+ · 3.8★ (26)
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #4 5 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 
Force First and Last Name as Display Name 2K+ · 4.3★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
WP Updates Notifier 20K+ · 4.2★ (35)
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
Last Modified Timestamp 6K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #18 8 too low 11 
Classic Editor 8M+ · 4.9★ (1251)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
Show modified Date in admin lists 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #19 6 too low 14 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
Enable Media Replace 600K+ · 4.4★ (302)
wp.org #21 6 too low 16 
Comments – wpDiscuz 60K+ · 4.7★ (581) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 6 too low 17 
Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.5★ (355) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Easy MCP AI – Connect Claude to WordPress: MCP Server for ChatGPT & AI Agents 30K+ · 4.9★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #17 1 too high 19 
Change Last Modified Date 3K+ · 4.3★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #11 8 too high 20 Disable Updates for WordPress Core, Plugins and Themes 9K+ · 4.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #8 12 too high 21 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Plugins Last Updated Column 600+ · 4.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 
WPC Update Variations In Cart for WooCommerce 200+ · 4.2★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
Lock Last Modified Date 80+ · 4.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #14 10 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.