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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “menu templating”

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 templating”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 4 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 Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Quote Submissions shows at wp.org #10 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Iptanus File Upload places #10 on merit, 4.4★ from 117 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440) wp.org #1 2 Gantry 5 Framework 7K+ · 4.6★ (34) wp.org #2 3 Simple Job Board 10K+ · 4.7★ (133) wp.org #3 4 HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) wp.org #4 5 Events Made Easy 1K+ · 4.6★ (111) wp.org #5 6 Sprout Invoices – Client Invoicing & Estimates 1K+ · 4.4★ (191) wp.org #13 7 too low 7 F FeedWordPress 8K+ · 4.2★ (61) wp.org #6 1 too high 8 Simple Event Planner 1K+ · 4.3★ (23) wp.org #7 1 too high 9 Responsive Lightbox 10K+ · 4.6★ (42) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Iptanus File Upload 10K+ · 4.4★ (117) wp.org #21 11 too low 11 Booster for WooCommerce – PDF Invoices, Abandoned Cart, Variation Swatches & 100+ Tools 30K+ · 4.6★ (535) wp.org #19 8 too low 12 Team Members – A WordPress Team Plugin with Gallery, Grid, Carousel, Slider, Table, List, and More 2K+ · 4.7★ (91) wp.org #22 10 too low 13 Great Restaurant Menu WP 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 Podlove Web Player 4K+ · 3.7★ (14) wp.org #8 6 too high 15 rtMedia for WordPress, BuddyPress and bbPress 7K+ · 3.7★ (152) wp.org #15 16 WP Document Revisions 2K+ · 3.7★ (23) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 KnowledgeBase with AI ChatBot HelpDesk – KBx 30+ · 4.6★ (14) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 Email Inquiry & Cart Options for WooCommerce 800+ · 3.2★ (20) wp.org #16 2 too high 19 CustomTables – Create, Read, Update, and Delete 30+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 LAPDI Easy Dev Framework 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 11 too high 21 Gravity Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions 70+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #17 4 too high 22 WP Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Quote Submissions 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 12 too high 23 Ninja Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions 50+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 Formidable Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions 200+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #14 10 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.