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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “model viewer”

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 “model viewer”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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

3D/AR/VR Model Viewer for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #11 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

PDF Poster – Let visitors read PDF’s without leaving the page places #6 on merit, 4.5★ from 149 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 3D Viewer – Turn Product Pages into Interactive 3D Experiences 9K+ · 4.7★ (24) wp.org #1 2 Document Viewer – let visitors view files right in the browser 2K+ · 4.7★ (52) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 360 Javascript Viewer 1K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 3D viewer by Visody 900+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 ↑1 2 too high 5 SwiftXR (3D/AR/VR) Viewer 100+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6 PDF Poster – Let visitors read PDF’s without leaving the page 20K+ · 4.5★ (149) wp.org #22 ↓5 16 too low 7 Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) wp.org #19 12 too low 8 3D Viewer Block – Bring Your Products to Life with Interactive 3D 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 4 too high 9 Easy 3D Viewer 1K+ · 4.1★ (12) wp.org #9 ↓1 10 PausAR – 3D and AR for Elementor 300+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #16 ↓1 6 too low 11 AR for WordPress 300+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too low 12 Photo Sphere Viewer – 360° Virtual Tour, Panorama, 360 Video & AR 3D Viewer 600+ · 3.5★ (2) wp.org #3 ↓1 9 too high 13 Augmented Reality Viewer – 3D Model Viewer 400+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 6 too high 14 BSS 3D Product Viewer & AR for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 ↑4 2 too high 15 3D Viewer – 3D Model Viewer – Augmented Reality – Virtual Try On 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 AR for WooCommerce 60+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #21 ↓1 5 too low 17 Easy 3d Model Viewer 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 PDF Embed Block – share documents right inside your posts 4K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too low 19 3D Viewer – glb/gltf Viewer by WPSE 90+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20 Document Embedder Addons for Elementor – Embed Documents in Elementor Websites 6K+ · 3.7★ (7) wp.org #23 3 too low 21 Ultimate 3D Model Viewer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 3 too high 22 3D/AR/VR Model Viewer for WooCommerce 10+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #11 11 too high 23 3D Scene Viewer 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↑7 6 too high 24 ModelVista – 3D Model Viewer for WordPress 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓1

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.