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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “metro”

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 “metro”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

Metro Tabs – Vertical, Responsive & Linkable Tabs Block shows at wp.org #4 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 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 #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 1680 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Unlimited Elements for Elementor 300K+ · 4.8★ (525) wp.org #8 5 too low 4 Variation Images Gallery for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (39) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Wp Social Login and Register Social Counter 70K+ · 4.6★ (67) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 Lightbox & Modal Popup WordPress Plugin – FooBox 100K+ · 3.9★ (95) wp.org #6 7 Blogmentor – Blog Layouts for Elementor 4K+ · 4.7★ (7) wp.org #3 4 too high 8 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680) wp.org #22 ↓1 14 too low 9 Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.7★ (55) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Turbo Addons Elementor 3K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Medialist 800+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 Metro Tabs – Vertical, Responsive & Linkable Tabs Block 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 8 too high 13 Popular Brand Icons – Simple Icons 3K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #20 7 too low 14 DethemeKit for Elementor 30K+ · 3.7★ (9) wp.org #16 2 too low 15 eShopLogistic Shipping Calculator 100+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #15 16 LandTech Extras for Elementor 80+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 2 too high 17 Ultimate Bootstrap Elements for Elementor 6K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 Advanced Image Gallery for Elementor – Grid, Carousel & Slideshow 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 6 too high 19 Themofy Addons for Elementor 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 20 Forma Grid Gallery — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 Unlimited Elements Blocks Library 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 4 too high 22 PizzaTier — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23 Easy Album Gallery — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24 S Songkick Concerts and Festivals 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 6 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.