wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mustache”
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 “mustache”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 3 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
Emerge Campaigns shows at wp.org #6 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its — installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Event Organiser places #4 on merit, 4.6★ from 140 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Faktur Pro for WooCommerce 900+ · 4.6★ (32)
wp.org #1 2 
Post to Google My Business (Google Business Profile) 10K+ · 4.9★ (159)
wp.org #7 ↑1 5 too low 3 P Posts 2 Posts 9K+ · 4.8★ (101)
wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too low 4 Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140)
wp.org #12 8 too low 5 
One User Avatar | User Profile Picture 100K+ · 4.7★ (41)
wp.org #11 6 too low 6 M Module Pager 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 4 too high 7 
Vai De Promo 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 4 too high 8 E Emojify Studio – Custom Emoji & Sticker Builder — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
EfficiencyNext Data Connector — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 4 too high 10 Q Query Multiple Taxonomies 400+ · 4.6★ (10) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 13 too low 11 Emerge Campaigns — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
WPBetterCodeHighlighting — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
In3 On-site Messaging plug-in for WooCommerce 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 3 too high 14 F Forms: 3rd-Party Xml Post 100+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 5 too low 15 
Integration E-conomic for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 O Omoikane Simple Sales Reports for Welcart — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
Dynamic Functionalities 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 
Arik Dynamic Table & Addons for Elementor 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 
Vector Expressions — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too high 20 E EP Admin Messages 10+ · 3.3★ (3) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 F flickree 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 3 too high 22 
An Easy Skype Button 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 2 too high 23 N Newsletter Artisan 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 M Mustavatar — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk 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.