wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “lenis”
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 “lenis”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 19.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
ScalingHawk Smooth Scroll (Powered by Lenis) shows at wp.org #2 but places #6 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates places #3 on merit, 4.6★ from 388 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Smooth scrolling with Lenis 4K+ · 4.8★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 
Sky Addons for Elementor – 160+ Widgets, GSAP Animations, Templates & Theme Builder 2K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388)
wp.org #16 ↓4 13 too low 4 
Animations for Blocks 10K+ · 4.8★ (27)
wp.org #13 ↓3 9 too low 5 
MouseWheel Smooth Scroll 90K+ · 4.5★ (44)
wp.org #14 ↓3 9 too low 6 ScalingHawk Smooth Scroll (Powered by Lenis) 40+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 4 too high 7 
Arts Smooth Scrolling for Elementor 60+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
Gredich Smooth Scroll 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too high 9 
ExtenderX – Accessibility Toolbar, Dark Mode & Site Tools 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too high 10 
Animicro 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too high 11 
SW34 Easy Scroll — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too high 12 
RZN Studio Scroll Animations — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
Nori for Elementor — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 3 too high 14 
Tap Top 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓3 3 too high 15 
StSalv Smart Schema Builder — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓3 3 too high 16 
Bevel Kit — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
Arts Cursor Follower for Elementor 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓4 1 too low 18 T TMS Core Essentials — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓4 1 too low 19 
Arts Horizontal Scroll for Elementor 80+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓4 2 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.