wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “menu search”
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 search”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 1 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
WP Search with Algolia shows at wp.org #18 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #1 2 
Search Exclude 50K+ · 4.8★ (218)
wp.org #3 ↑9 1 too low 3 
Admin Menu Search 3K+ · 4.9★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too high 4 
Better Search Replace 1M+ · 4.3★ (546)
wp.org #4 5 
Ivory Search – WordPress Search Plugin 90K+ · 4.9★ (1562) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 ↓3 6 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #7 ↓2 1 too low 7 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too high 8 
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406)
wp.org #8 ↓2 9 
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter 70K+ · 4.8★ (266)
wp.org #9 ↑6 10 
Responsive Menu – Mobile Menu & Hamburger Menu Builder 70K+ · 4.5★ (574)
wp.org #10 ↓1 11 
WP Mobile Menu – The Mobile-Friendly Responsive Menu 70K+ · 4.7★ (256)
wp.org #12 ↓2 1 too low 12 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↑5 1 too high 13 
FiboSearch – Ajax Search for WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.9★ (1815) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↓2 14 
Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too low 15 
WP Responsive Menu 30K+ · 4.3★ (100)
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 
WP Menu Icons 20K+ · 4.9★ (139)
wp.org #22 ↓1 6 too low 17 
Advanced Woo Search – Product Search for WooCommerce 60K+ · 4.8★ (248) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓7 2 too high 18 
Admin Menu Tree Page View 10K+ · 4.6★ (48)
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 
Float menu – awesome floating side menu 30K+ · 4.4★ (41)
wp.org #17 2 too high 20 
SearchWP Live Ajax Search 40K+ · 4.7★ (36)
wp.org #20 ↓1 21 
Iks Menu – WordPress Category Accordion Menu & FAQs 10K+ · 5.0★ (27)
wp.org #24 ↓1 3 too low 22 WP Search with Algolia 7K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 
Login or Logout Menu Item 20K+ · 4.8★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 24 
Ollie Menu Designer 6K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.