wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mobile device”
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 “mobile device”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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
Device Detector shows at wp.org #7 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. places #8 on merit, 4.7★ from 2215 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.
WP Mobile Menu – The Mobile-Friendly Responsive Menu 70K+ · 4.7★ (256)
wp.org #1 2 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too low 3 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too low 4 
Specific Content For Mobile – Customize the mobile version without redirections 4K+ · 4.8★ (31)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 M Multi Device Switcher 10K+ · 4.3★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #2 3 too high 6 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too low 7 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #13 ↑1 6 too low 8 Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. 200K+ · 4.7★ (2215)
wp.org #19 ↑1 11 too low 9 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229)
wp.org #18 ↑3 9 too low 10 
Mobile Detect 3K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #4 6 too high 11 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #20 ↑1 9 too low 12 
Mobile Contact Bar 9K+ · 4.6★ (30)
wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too high 13 
Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154)
wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too low 14 
Order On Mobile for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.9★ (66)
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309)
wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16 
Simple Social Media Share Buttons – Social Sharing for Everyone 20K+ · 4.8★ (194)
wp.org #22 ↑1 6 too low 17 
OTP Login & Register Woocommerce 1K+ · 4.6★ (44)
wp.org #16 ↑2 1 too high 18 
Mobile Call Now & Map Buttons 4K+ · 4.9★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too high 19 
MOBILOOK — Mobile View & Mobile‑Friendly Test 1K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
Device-Based Redirect 300+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 9 too high 21 
Order on Mobile for WooCommerce 7K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 2 too low 22 
Mobile Smart App Banner 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑1 10 too high 23 
Mobile Call Buttons 600+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #8 15 too high 24 Device Detector 500+ · 4.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑1 17 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.