wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “maximum”
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 “maximum”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 6 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
MaxLimits – Increase Maximum Upload, Post & PHP Limits shows at wp.org #6 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 736 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2614)
wp.org #1 2 
Big File Uploads – Increase Maximum File Upload Size 100K+ · 4.9★ (400)
wp.org #2 3 
Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.6★ (42)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
EasyMedia – Increase Media Upload File Size | Role-Based Upload Limit | Increase Execution Time 70K+ · 4.9★ (98)
wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too low 5 
Order Minimum/Maximum Amount Limits for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – The Most Popular SMTP and Email Log Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (5201)
wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too low 7 
Min Max Quantities – Set Minimum/Maximum Quantity & Price Limits with Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (60) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 
Loginizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1033) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1717)
wp.org #15 ↑1 6 too low 10 User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (736)
wp.org #18 ↑1 8 too low 11 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (640)
wp.org #11 ↑2 12 
Min and Max Quantity for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.8★ (218) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too low 13 
Maximum, Minimum and Multiple Quantity for WooCommerce Shops 3K+ · 4.4★ (36) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 5 too high 14 
PublishPress Checklists: Pre-Publishing Approval Checklist – Validate Post Requirements 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 
Login Lockdown & Protection 100K+ · 4.3★ (61)
wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too low 16 
Min Max Control – Min Max Quantity & Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (79) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓1 17 
Min Max Step Quantity Limits Manager for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 18 
WPVulnerability 10K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
MainWP Child – Securely Connects to the MainWP Dashboard to Manage Multiple Sites 700K+ · 5.0★ (70) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↑2 1 too low 20 
Minimum and Maximum Quantity for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.0★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 11 too high 21 
WordPress Importer 2M+ · 3.1★ (327)
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 MaxLimits – Increase Maximum Upload, Post & PHP Limits 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑1 16 too high 23 
Themx Maximum Upload File Size | Increase Maximum Upload File Size 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 
Image Optimizer – Compress Images and Convert to WebP or AVIF 1M+ · 1.7★ (77) host-installed base
wp.org #23 1 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.