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

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 “mysql”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 2 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

MySQL version display shows at wp.org #4 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

CompressX — AVIF & WebP Converter, Media Replacement places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 197 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Index WP MySQL For Speed 50K+ · 4.8★ (99) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 2

All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676) wp.org #3 ↑2 1 too low 3

WPvivid — Backup, Migration & Staging 900K+ · 4.9★ (1568) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4

Version Info – Server Health Monitor, PHP & MySQL Version Display, Environment Indicators 10K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #2 2 too high 5

Database Addon for Contact Form 7 – CFDB7 600K+ · 5.0★ (1875) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6

Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406) wp.org #7 1 too low 7

wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449) wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too low 8

Duplicate Page 3M+ · 4.8★ (466) wp.org #8 9

Database Addon For WPForms ( wpforms entries ) – WPFormsDB 20K+ · 5.0★ (131) wp.org #13 ↓2 4 too low 10

WP phpMyAdmin 40K+ · 4.6★ (58) wp.org #10 11

CompressX — AVIF & WebP Converter, Media Replacement 40K+ · 5.0★ (197) wp.org #22 ↑1 11 too low 12

WPVulnerability 10K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too high 13

Database Backup for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (66) wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too low 14

Nginx Helper 200K+ · 4.4★ (31) wp.org #12 ↑1 3 too high 16

Debug Bar 20K+ · 4.1★ (69) wp.org #16 ↑3 17

Unlist Posts & Pages 10K+ · 4.7★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑2 1 too low 18

Database Manager – WP Adminer 20K+ · 5.0★ (28) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too low 19 S SQLite Database Integration 5K+ · 4.6★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓3 2 too high 20

WP-ServerInfo 10K+ · 4.8★ (17) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #15 5 too high 21

MySQL version display 300+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 ↓2 17 too high 22

Index WP Users For Speed 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓11 1 too high 23

PayU India 7K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too high 24 P Page Optimize 200K+ · 3.0★ (5) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 1 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.