wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “no code”
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 “no code”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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 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
Code Embed shows at wp.org #12 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 45 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #6 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915)
wp.org #2 3 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Insert PHP Code Snippet 90K+ · 4.9★ (707)
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 
Head & Footer Code 100K+ · 5.0★ (51)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too high 8 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #8 ↓2 9 
Captcha Code 100K+ · 3.9★ (35)
wp.org #5 4 too high 10 
Kaya QR Code Generator 10K+ · 4.4★ (38)
wp.org #7 ↑1 3 too high 11 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too low 12 
Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58)
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #17 4 too low 14 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
UPI QR Code Payment Gateway for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (256) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too high 16 
Code Block Pro – Beautiful Syntax Highlighting 10K+ · 4.8★ (50)
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order 500K+ · 4.5★ (162)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Highlighting Code Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 
AddFunc Head & Footer Code 20K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #19 20 Code Embed 10K+ · 4.4★ (45) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 8 too high 21 
Code Prettify 1K+ · 5.0★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 
Country Code For Elementor Form Telephone Field 10K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
QR Code Composer – Automatic QR code generation 3K+ · 4.2★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 
QR Code Creator 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #23 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.