wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “monster”

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 “monster”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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

Block Widgets Monster shows at wp.org #5 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 30+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 393 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3156) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4

Event Monster – Event Manager, Event Booking, Event Ticket & Registration 600+ · 4.8★ (18) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #2 2 too high 5

WP Travel Engine – Tour Booking Plugin – Tour Operator Software 20K+ · 4.9★ (594) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #8 3 too low 6

HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (221) wp.org #12 6 too low 7

Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 1 too high 8

Dokan: AI Powered WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace Solution – Build Your Own Amazon, eBay, Etsy 30K+ · 4.6★ (769) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 1 too low 9

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #17 8 too low 10

GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 1 too low 11

FunnelKit Automations – Email Marketing Automation and CRM for WordPress & WooCommerce 20K+ · 5.0★ (346) wp.org #18 ↑2 7 too low 12

WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249) wp.org #15 ↑1 3 too low 13

Prime Slider – Hero Slider, Carousel, WooCommerce & Post Slider Elementor Addons 100K+ · 4.5★ (82) wp.org #14 1 too low 14

Variation Monster – Product Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 10+ · 4.8★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #7 7 too high 15

Paymattic – Secure, Simple Payment & Donation with Subscription Payments, Recurring Donations, Customer Management 3K+ · 4.8★ (44) wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16

X-Currency – The Ultimate WooCommerce currency switcher for a smoother shopping experience 1K+ · 4.6★ (20) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 6 too high 17

Block Widgets Monster 30+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #5 ↓1 12 too high 18

RentMy Real-Time Rental Management Plugin 10+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↑1 5 too low 19

Mhr Post Ticker 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓2 1 too low 20

Blocks Monster 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint thin reviews wp.org #13 7 too high 21

Mhr Gallery 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 5 too high 22

Travel Booking Toolkit 2K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #24 2 too low 23

WP Travel Engine – Elementor Widgets | Create Travel Booking Website Using WordPress and Elementor 10K+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑2 4 too high 24

FrankenCookie 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↑1 2 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.