wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “menu hover effects”
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 “menu hover effects”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
Advanced Image Hover Effect for Elementor shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 1680 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Image Hover Effects Ultimate ( Image Gallery, Effects, Lightbox, Comparison & Magnifier ) 10K+ · 4.7★ (250)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Hover Effects – easily create any hover effect 7K+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Image Hover Effects – Elementor Addon 40K+ · 4.9★ (83)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #5 6 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #8 9 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #14 5 too low 10 
Flipbox – Awesomes Flip Boxes Image Overlay 9K+ · 4.7★ (149)
wp.org #10 11 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 
Unlimited Elements for Elementor 300K+ · 4.8★ (525)
wp.org #17 5 too low 13 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 
Simple Floating Menu 10K+ · 5.0★ (38)
wp.org #13 1 too high 15 
Iks Menu – WordPress Category Accordion Menu & FAQs 10K+ · 5.0★ (27)
wp.org #12 3 too high 16 
Float menu – awesome floating side menu 30K+ · 4.4★ (41)
wp.org #11 5 too high 17 
Master Addons for Elementor – Elementor Addons, Widgets, Mega Menu Builder, Popup Builder, Widget Builder & Template Kits 30K+ · 4.5★ (212)
wp.org #22 ↓2 5 too low 18 
QuadMenu – Mega Menu 10K+ · 4.5★ (270)
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 
HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↑1 1 too low 20 
Block Animations, Motion & Scroll Effects – Ghost Kit 6K+ · 4.6★ (46) heavy footprint
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 
Image Hover Effects – WordPress Plugin 3K+ · 4.4★ (42) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 
Fullscreen Menu 2K+ · 4.7★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 Advanced Image Hover Effect for Elementor 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #9 14 too high 24 
Groovy Menu Plugin (Free) 4K+ · 3.6★ (25)
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.