wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mainwp pro reports extension”
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 “mainwp pro reports extension”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 17. 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
Security Ninja For MainWP shows at wp.org #6 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 600+ 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
Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites places #7 on merit, 5.0★ from 127 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
MainWP Dashboard: Self-hosted WordPress Management for Agencies 20K+ · 4.9★ (2350) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 2 too low 2 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Deliverability and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (525)
wp.org #5 3 too low 3 
MainWP Child – Securely Connects to the MainWP Dashboard to Manage Multiple Sites 700K+ · 5.0★ (70) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (488)
wp.org #7 3 too low 5 
MainWP Child Reports 100K+ · 4.3★ (6) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #1 4 too high 6 
Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (100)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites 40K+ · 5.0★ (127)
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1321) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
WPvivid Backup for MainWP 10K+ · 4.6★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #4 5 too high 10 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (372)
wp.org #15 5 too low 11 
Atarim – AI Agency for WordPress: Edit Pages, Fix Code, Update Plugins, SEO & Client Feedback 1K+ · 4.9★ (126) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
phpinfo() WP – Site Health, PHP Compatibility & Server Audit 3K+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 Security Ninja For MainWP 600+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #6 7 too high 14 
Update Brief for MainWP 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 5 too high 15 
Independent Analytics for MainWP 800+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 3 too high 16 
AdSanity for MainWP 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 3 too high 17 
SteerWP Console 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #17 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.