wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “list manager”
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 “list manager”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 3 of the top 20. 2 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
FAZ Cookie Manager shows at wp.org #10 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 30 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 2433 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #2 3 
File Manager 1M+ · 4.6★ (1492)
wp.org #3 4 
Download Manager 100K+ · 4.1★ (1006)
wp.org #4 5 
Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (441)
wp.org #5 6 
WP Job Manager 70K+ · 4.4★ (237)
wp.org #6 7 
Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) not PHP-current
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 300K+ · 4.9★ (2433)
wp.org #13 4 too low 10 
Checkout Field Manager (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.5★ (784)
wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too low 11 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #14 1 too low 14 
VS Event List 8K+ · 4.9★ (82)
wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too high 15 FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #10 ↑2 5 too high 16 
File Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (202)
wp.org #16 ↑1 17 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #18 1 too low 18 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
Meta Tag Manager 70K+ · 4.8★ (84) not PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↑1 21 
Affiliates Manager 8K+ · 4.1★ (61)
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 
Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58)
wp.org #22 23 
Stock Manager for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (130) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 24 
Lightweight Sidebar Manager 80K+ · 4.2★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.