wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “menu 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 “menu manager”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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 #14 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 6 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 #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 2433 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↓1 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 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
WP Job Manager 70K+ · 4.4★ (237)
wp.org #8 9 
Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) not PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑4 2 too low 10 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 300K+ · 4.9★ (2433)
wp.org #17 6 too low 12 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Checkout Field Manager (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.5★ (784)
wp.org #15 ↓1 2 too low 14 
Permalink Manager Lite 100K+ · 4.8★ (176)
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too low 16 
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
File Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (202)
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 
File Manager Pro – Filester 100K+ · 4.9★ (155)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #14 ↓3 6 too high 21 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓3 1 too low 22 
WP Bottom Menu 20K+ · 4.5★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #16 6 too high 23 
Meta Tag Manager 70K+ · 4.8★ (84) not PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓3 24 
APCu Manager 10K+ · 4.6★ (20) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓2 4 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.