wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “modify time”
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 time”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 4 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
Time Clock – A WordPress Employee & Volunteer Time Clock Plugin shows at wp.org #6 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 4228 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.
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #1 2 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #2 3 
Real-Time Find and Replace 70K+ · 4.5★ (82)
wp.org #3 4 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #7 3 too low 5 
Visitor Traffic Real Time Statistics 30K+ · 4.1★ (233)
wp.org #5 6 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #4 2 too high 7 
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #14 6 too low 9 
Delivery & Pickup Date Time for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (282) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #12 2 too low 11 
Simple Custom CSS and JS 600K+ · 4.4★ (104)
wp.org #11 12 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #17 5 too low 13 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #23 10 too low 14 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #22 7 too low 16 
Search Regex 100K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #18 1 too low 18 
Live Chat by Formilla – Real-time Chat & Chatbots Plugin 2K+ · 4.8★ (116)
wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Time Clock – A WordPress Employee & Volunteer Time Clock Plugin 500+ · 4.9★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 13 too high 20 
Salat Times 500+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #10 10 too high 21 
Remove Footer Credit 60K+ · 4.7★ (88) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 5 too high 22 
Advanced iFrame 40K+ · 4.4★ (54)
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
Google for WooCommerce 800K+ · 2.7★ (268) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
Booking Package 10K+ · 4.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.