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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “micro interactions”

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 “micro interactions”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20.

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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Inblock Smooth Blocks shows at wp.org #9 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10+ 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

Domain Mapping System | Create Microsites with Multiple Alias Domains (multisite optional) places #8 on merit, 4.5★ from 56 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Elements Hive for Breakdance 1K+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #6 ↓1 4 too low 3 Safelayout Elegant Icons – WordPress icons 700+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #3 4 Interactions – Animations for Elementor & Gutenberg 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #1 3 too high 5 Easy Optimizer – PageSpeed, Cache & Core Web Vitals (Unused CSS, Delay JS, Lazy Load) 1K+ · 4.6★ (18) wp.org #10 5 too low 6 Embed Lottie Player – bring your pages to life with animation 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too high 7 Safelayout Brilliant Buttons – WordPress Buttons 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 Domain Mapping System | Create Microsites with Multiple Alias Domains (multisite optional) 2K+ · 4.5★ (56) wp.org #19 11 too low 9 SpeedyCache – Cache, Optimization, Performance 500K+ · 4.4★ (30) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 VOD Infomaniak 20K+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #7 3 too high 11 Neurogenesis Styler – Block Editor Typography, Spacing & Design Controls 20+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #8 3 too high 12 MicroPayments – Fans Paysite: Paid Creator Subscriptions, Digital Assets, Wallet 10+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #14 2 too low 13 Any Block Carousel Slider 200+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #16 3 too low 14 Spider Elements – Premium Elementor Widgets & Addons Library 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #17 3 too low 15 ReelsHive 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Inblock Smooth Blocks 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 ↑6 7 too high 17 Block Style Modifiers 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 5 too high 18 King Addons for Elementor – 100+ Elementor Widgets, 4 000+ Elementor Templates, WooCommerce Builder, Mega Menu, Popup Builder 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓6 3 too high 19 Blocks Monster 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓2 1 too low 20 Animicro 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 SUUVO Widgets for Elementor — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 OBJE Podcast Player — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 RVS Database Doctor 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 ↓2 24 Nexura Security — Malware Scanner, Firewall, 2FA & WordPress Security 20+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #18 ↑5 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.