wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mobile header”
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 header”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
Header Footer Builder for Elementor shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 30K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 528 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #1 2 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309)
wp.org #2 3 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1916)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Sticky Header Effects for Elementor 300K+ · 4.5★ (69)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
AMP for WP – Accelerated Mobile Pages 70K+ · 4.4★ (1319)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
WP Mobile Menu – The Mobile-Friendly Responsive Menu 70K+ · 4.7★ (256)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #8 ↑2 1 too low 8 
Head, Footer and Post Injections 200K+ · 4.9★ (735)
wp.org #14 ↑1 6 too low 9 Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #16 ↓8 7 too low 10 
Definitely allow mobile zooming 7K+ · 5.0★ (54)
wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too low 11 
Insert Headers And Footers 200K+ · 5.0★ (135)
wp.org #15 ↓3 4 too low 12 
Responsive Menu – Mobile Menu & Hamburger Menu Builder 70K+ · 4.5★ (574)
wp.org #19 ↓3 7 too low 13 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14 
My Sticky Bar – Floating Notification Bar & Sticky Header (formerly myStickymenu) 100K+ · 4.9★ (1199)
wp.org #24 ↓2 10 too low 15 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #22 7 too low 16 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑1 6 too high 17 
WP Header Images 4K+ · 4.4★ (35)
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
SlickNav Mobile Menu 3K+ · 4.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑2 6 too high 19 Header Footer Builder for Elementor 30K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 12 too high 20 
Mobile Detect 3K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #9 11 too high 21 
Mobile Call Now & Map Buttons 4K+ · 4.9★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓2 2 too low 22 
Mobile Contact Line 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #17 5 too high 23 
CM Header and Footer – Add custom scripts and styles to your header and footer with ease 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 
Header Enhancement 500+ · 3.5★ (2) thin reviews
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.