wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “linkbacks”
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 “linkbacks”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 18. 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
Shortnotes shows at wp.org #2 but places #6 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ 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.
IndieWeb 600+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #3 2 too low 2 
Webmention 900+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #4 2 too low 3 
Avatar Privacy 1K+ · 5.0★ (25) closure risk stale but ranked
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
Add Pingbacks 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #1 3 too high 5 
Post Kinds 100+ · 4.3★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #5 6 Shortnotes 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #2 4 too high 7 J jcwp copy paste blocker 200+ · 4.4★ (12) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
SharePulse 10+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 9 S Syndicate Press 100+ · 4.2★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 R Refback 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 A Avoid Linkback Abuse (ALA) 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 S Social Profilr 40+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 2 too low 13 W WP-JanesGuide — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 2 too low 14 W WoW Armory 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too low 15 
Diasposter 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 4 too high 16 R Recent Trackbacks / Pingbacks by Entry 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too low 17 J jQuery Lightbox 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 W WoW Guild 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 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.