wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “linked data”

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 “linked data”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 5 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

Linked Open Profiles shows at wp.org #3 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 60+ 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

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 1962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Data Tables Generator by Supsystic – Excel-like, WooCommerce & Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.7★ (497) wp.org #2 1 too low 2

WPC Linked Variation for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.7★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #1 1 too high 3

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4

The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) not PHP-current wp.org #9 ↑3 5 too low 5

Lightbox with PhotoSwipe 20K+ · 4.9★ (115) wp.org #11 ↓2 6 too low 6

Data Source for Contact Form 7 300+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too high 7

WordLift – AI powered SEO – Schema 300+ · 4.4★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too high 8

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962) wp.org #23 ↓6 15 too low 9

Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406) wp.org #15 ↑2 6 too low 10

GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #17 ↑3 7 too low 11

Object Data Sync for Salesforce Integration with WP, Woo, Gravity, WPForms, Ninja, CF7 & more 100+ · 4.9★ (23) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↑2 2 too low 12

Simple Sitemap – Responsive HTML Sitemap for WordPress 60K+ · 3.9★ (72) wp.org #18 ↑4 6 too low 13

Linked Variation for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.6★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too high 14

Google for WooCommerce 800K+ · 2.7★ (268) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 7 too high 16

MKL Product Configurator for WooCommerce – 2D & 3D Live Preview 2K+ · 4.8★ (42) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 8 too low 17

Linked Open Profiles 60+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #3 ↑1 14 too high 18

Kadence Starter Templates — Predesigned Website Templates 200K+ · 4.3★ (19) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #21 ↑3 3 too low 19

TableMaster for Elementor – Responsive Data Tables & Comparison Tables 400+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #12 ↑1 7 too high 20

Publish kintone data 50+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑1 21

Clever Linked Terms 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #7 ↑3 14 too high 22

Ultimate Data Table Addon For Elementor 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑2 8 too high 23

Table Addons for Elementor – Responsive Table Builder 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑3 7 too high 24

WPSyncSheets For WPForms – Google Sheets Connector for WPForms & Real‑Time Data Export 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #22 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.