wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “multisite user sync”
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 “multisite user sync”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
MIPL Multistore Sync for WooCommerce. Sync Products, Stock and Orders. shows at wp.org #11 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 7519 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #3 ↓1 2 too low 2 
WP Multisite User Sync/Unsync 600+ · 4.2★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
User Frontend – Membership, User Registration, User Profile, User Directory & Content Restriction with Frontend Post Submission 20K+ · 4.1★ (537) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↑6 1 too high 4 
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 
Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 
WP Remote Users Sync 6K+ · 4.9★ (73) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 ↑11 2 too high 7 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #14 7 too low 8 
Media Cloud Sync 1K+ · 4.9★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓2 3 too high 9 
WPFront User Role Editor 30K+ · 4.5★ (65)
wp.org #9 ↓2 10 Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #21 ↓1 11 too low 11 
PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions 90K+ · 4.7★ (143)
wp.org #15 ↓2 4 too low 12 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #18 6 too low 13 
ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 ↓4 5 too high 14 
FlexTable – Data Table Sync with Google Sheets 3K+ · 4.6★ (35)
wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too high 15 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current
wp.org #16 17 
Photo Engine (Media Organizer & Lightroom) 2K+ · 4.9★ (210)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
GDPR Cookie Compliance – Cookie Banner, Cookie Consent, Cookie Notice for CCPA, EU Cookie Law 300K+ · 4.6★ (205)
wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too low 19 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
WP Multisite Content Copier/Updater 700+ · 4.3★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 8 too high 21 
Hide Admin Bar Based on User Roles – Disable the WordPress Toolbar by Role or Capability 20K+ · 3.9★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 MIPL Multistore Sync for WooCommerce. Sync Products, Stock and Orders. 200+ · 4.4★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓2 11 too high 23 
DiluxOne Multisite User Sync 10+ · 4.6★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 10 too high 24 
CiviCRM Profile Sync 500+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #17 7 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.