wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “modification”
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 “modification”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
Surbma | Divi Extras shows at wp.org #12 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 491 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Enable Media Replace 600K+ · 4.4★ (302)
wp.org #1 ↑2 2 
Search Regex 100K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #2 3 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220)
wp.org #4 ↑2 1 too low 4 
XML Sitemap & Google News 100K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #3 ↑2 1 too high 5 
Connect Matomo – Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (95)
wp.org #7 ↑2 2 too low 6 
Simple SEO 10K+ · 4.7★ (33)
wp.org #6 ↑2 7 
WP-PageNavi 400K+ · 4.7★ (149)
wp.org #9 ↓5 2 too low 8 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #14 ↑1 6 too low 9 
Customizer Backup & Reset 7K+ · 4.2★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↑2 4 too high 10 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #15 ↑7 5 too low 11 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #17 ↑4 6 too low 12 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
Disable Comments 100K+ · 3.8★ (25)
wp.org #8 ↑4 5 too high 14 
Advanced iFrame 40K+ · 4.4★ (54)
wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too low 15 
WC – APG Weight Shipping 6K+ · 4.3★ (49)
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
VikBooking Hotel Booking Engine & PMS 8K+ · 4.8★ (61)
wp.org #23 ↑1 7 too low 17 
Prevent Browser Caching 10K+ · 4.9★ (29)
wp.org #21 ↓1 4 too low 18 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #22 ↑1 4 too low 19 
Cachebuster 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #10 9 too high 20 
VikRentCar Car Rental Management System 4K+ · 4.8★ (30)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
Post Types Unlimited 10K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too high 22 
Relevanssi Live Ajax Search 7K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 Surbma | Divi Extras 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑1 11 too high 24 
Reset Customizer 700+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 11 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.