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

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 “minifier”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

HoverPrice Converter for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #17 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its — 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

PageSpeed Ninja – Cache, Minify, Defer CSS JavaScript, Critical CSS, Optimize Images, Convert WebP places #4 on merit, 4.5★ from 114 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4225) wp.org #1 2 Minify HTML 10K+ · 4.7★ (33) wp.org #4 2 too low 3 PausAR – 3D and AR for Elementor 300+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 PageSpeed Ninja – Cache, Minify, Defer CSS JavaScript, Critical CSS, Optimize Images, Convert WebP 5K+ · 4.5★ (114) wp.org #12 8 too low 5 Asta HTML Minifier 100+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #2 3 too high 6 Powered Minifier 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 All in one Minifier 10+ · 3.8★ (4) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 Store Locator For Goong 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Phone Field with Country Code for Elementor – Pluginry 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 10 Zanderio AI 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 3 too high 11 Fast HTML Minify 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 3 too high 12 LC Scripts Optimizer 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Simple Boat Rental — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 Quikc — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 2 too low 15 StackVane Video Import for Divi — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Nevrivo Contact Hub Lite — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too low 17 MHM Currency Switcher 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 3 too high 18 BBA Internal Link Machine — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 1 too low 19 UGT Admin IDs — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 GrowthLife GrowOptin — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 HoverPrice Converter for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 4 too high 22 Altrix Shipping Profit Guard for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 23 BIG-FLYTX by MAS — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 24 Servidores Seguros Radio Player — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24

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.