wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “merge users”
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 “merge users”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 3 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
GravityWP – Merge Tags shows at wp.org #7 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 701 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Export and Import Users and Customers 50K+ · 4.8★ (442) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Online Active Users 2K+ · 4.7★ (51)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 
WP Remote Users Sync 6K+ · 4.9★ (73) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 ↑7 1 too high 5 
UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
RegistrationMagic – Custom Registration Forms, User Registration, Payment, and User Login 7K+ · 4.5★ (459)
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #11 ↑3 4 too low 8 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #15 ↓2 7 too low 9 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701)
wp.org #20 ↑1 10 too low 11 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #12 ↑5 1 too low 12 
Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397)
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 too low 13 
ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities 5K+ · 4.6★ (236) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↑2 14 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #24 10 too low 15 
WP User Merger 300+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↓1 11 too high 16 
bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343)
wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too high 17 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #21 ↓1 4 too low 18 
Flying Pages: Preload Pages for Faster Navigation & Improved User Experience 20K+ · 4.9★ (79)
wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19 
BlogVault Backup & Staging 80K+ · 4.6★ (332)
wp.org #22 ↑2 3 too low 20 
Simple Membership 40K+ · 4.6★ (475) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↑4 1 too high 21 GravityWP – Merge Tags 2K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 14 too high 22 
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓1 13 too high 23 
Preferred Languages 3K+ · 5.0★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #23 24 
Disable User Login 6K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓5 8 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.