wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mobile hover”
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 hover”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 2 plugins are 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
Advanced Image Hover Effect for Elementor shows at wp.org #5 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 14387 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.
Image Hover Effects Ultimate ( Image Gallery, Effects, Lightbox, Comparison & Magnifier ) 10K+ · 4.7★ (250)
wp.org #1 2 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
SlickNav Mobile Menu 3K+ · 4.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #7 3 too low 5 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #8 ↑3 3 too low 6 
Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. 200K+ · 4.7★ (2215) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 7 
Weblizar Pin It Button On Image Hover And Post 10K+ · 4.0★ (64)
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 
Flipbox – Awesomes Flip Boxes Image Overlay 9K+ · 4.7★ (149)
wp.org #9 ↓1 10 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↑4 12 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #20 ↑1 8 too low 13 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↓2 1 too low 14 
FooGallery Photo Gallery : Image, Video & Masonry Galleries 100K+ · 4.8★ (995) not PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓2 1 too low 15 
Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery 100K+ · 4.5★ (1581) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↓3 2 too high 16 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
Unlimited Elements for Elementor 300K+ · 4.8★ (525)
wp.org #23 ↑1 6 too low 18 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #24 ↓1 6 too low 19 
ShiftNav – Responsive Mobile Menu 10K+ · 4.6★ (68)
wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too low 20 
Offcanvas Mobile Menu 800+ · 4.9★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #16 4 too high 21 Advanced Image Hover Effect for Elementor 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #5 16 too high 22 
Image Hover Effects – WordPress Plugin 3K+ · 4.4★ (42) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 3 too high 23 
Sticky Mobile Buttons 50+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 
Image Zoom on Hover 40+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑2 12 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.