wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “modify date”
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 “modify date”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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
Archives by Category and Date shows at wp.org #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.5★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #2 3 
Delivery & Pickup Date Time for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (282) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 4 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #5 ↑5 2 too high 8 
Admin Columns 100K+ · 4.9★ (1652)
wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too low 9 
Search Regex 100K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too high 10 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓4 1 too high 11 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #15 ↓3 4 too low 12 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #13 14 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 
List category posts 80K+ · 4.7★ (254)
wp.org #21 ↓2 6 too low 16 
Options for Twenty Twenty-One 6K+ · 4.9★ (64)
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #24 7 too low 18 
PW WooCommerce Bulk Edit 20K+ · 4.9★ (238) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 
Export and Import Users and Customers 50K+ · 4.8★ (442) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓2 3 too low 20 
Options for Twenty Seventeen 8K+ · 4.8★ (57)
wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21 
Booking Package 10K+ · 4.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑6 4 too high 22 
YBP Modify Date Control 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 10 too high 23 Archives by Category and Date 80+ · 2.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #11 12 too high 24 
Easy Bulk Date Editor 80+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 8 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.