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

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 “msie”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

WE – Minify HTML shows at wp.org #2 but places #7 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 60+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP YouTube Lyte places #2 on merit, 4.8★ from 206 reviews, but shows at wp.org #6. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Minify HTML 10K+ · 4.7★ (33) wp.org #1 2

WP YouTube Lyte 20K+ · 4.8★ (206) wp.org #6 4 too low 3

Arconix Shortcodes 3K+ · 4.6★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #4 1 too low 4

Friendly User Agent for WooCommerce 400+ · 5.0★ (10) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #3 1 too high 5

YITH WooCommerce Product Gallery & Image Zoom 10K+ · 3.6★ (71) wp.org #5 6

Comments – GraphComment | AI-Moderated Comment System 400+ · 4.7★ (30) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 W WE – Minify HTML 60+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #2 5 too high 8

Equivalent Mobile Redirect 2K+ · 3.9★ (33) closure risk stale but ranked wp.org #8 9

WP-UserAgent 200+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #10 1 too low 10 B Browser Body Classes with Shortcodes 10+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 4 too low 11 C Conditional Stylesheets and Body Classes 40+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 1 too low 12

Schedule Notice 10+ · 4.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #9 3 too high 13

edbbee 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 2 too high 14

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.