wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mini map”
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 “mini map”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Easy Map – Store Locator, OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Mapbox shows at wp.org #8 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 50+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Unlimited Elements for Elementor places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 525 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.
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122)
wp.org #1 2 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #2 3 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #3 4 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #4 ↑1 5 
Website Builder by SeedProd — Theme Builder, Landing Page Builder, Coming Soon Page, Maintenance Mode 600K+ · 4.9★ (4699)
wp.org #6 ↑3 1 too low 6 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #7 8 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too low 9 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 
Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90)
wp.org #12 ↑7 1 too low 12 Unlimited Elements for Elementor 300K+ · 4.8★ (525)
wp.org #20 8 too low 13 
PowerPack Addons for Elementor: Widgets, Form Styler and Templates 70K+ · 4.8★ (361)
wp.org #22 9 too low 14 
Spiffy Calendar 2K+ · 4.9★ (38)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79)
wp.org #18 3 too low 16 
WPCafe – Restaurant Menu, Online Food Ordering & Table Booking System 5K+ · 4.6★ (113)
wp.org #21 5 too low 17 
CartSuite – Cart All In One For WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.5★ (51)
wp.org #17 ↓2 18 
Easy Property Listings 5K+ · 4.7★ (112)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Tockify Events Calendar 2K+ · 4.5★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too high 20 
Food Online for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.1★ (26)
wp.org #15 ↓1 5 too high 21 
Ajaxified Cart 300+ · 4.8★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 3 too low 22 
Geo2 Maps Add-on for NextGEN Gallery 70+ · 3.3★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 9 too high 23 Easy Map – Store Locator, OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Mapbox 50+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓2 15 too high 24 
Easy Events Calendar : All-in-One Events Calendar with Social Event, Eventbrite, Meetup, Google & iCal Import Support 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓2 5 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.