wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mashup”
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 “mashup”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 2 of the top 17. 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
Priority Shortcodes shows at wp.org #8 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Better WordPress Minify places #6 on merit, 4.2★ from 137 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.
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Geo Mashup 1K+ · 4.7★ (33) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 too high 4 
GEO my WP 3K+ · 4.6★ (139) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 5 
Snazzy Maps 30K+ · 4.2★ (15) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 B Better WordPress Minify 7K+ · 4.2★ (137) closure risk
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 S Slick Google Map 50+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 T Tally Graph 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Location Report — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 10 C Chuck Norris Jokes Widget 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 2 too low 11 P Personalized Chuck Norris Jokes Widget 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 2 too low 12 @ @Reply \w comment preview 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 P Places WP Lite — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 S Simple Random Quotation — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 Priority Shortcodes 10+ · 1.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 7 too high 16 M Map Navigator 10+ · 1.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 2 too high 17 G GoodRelations for WP e-Commerce 10+ · 1.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk 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.