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

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 “obfuscator”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

Mobimint Mobile App Builder for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #8 but places #13 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

Helpie FAQ — Accordion, Docs & Knowledge Base places #2 on merit, 4.5★ from 80 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #1 ↑1 2

Helpie FAQ — Accordion, Docs & Knowledge Base 8K+ · 4.5★ (80) wp.org #12 ↑1 10 too low 3

WP Extended – Modular WordPress Toolkit 600+ · 4.9★ (28) wp.org #13 ↑1 10 too low 4

JavaScript Obfuscator 60+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 ↓1 3 too high 6

Link Obfuscator par Benjamin Thiers — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 2 too high 7

PowerSuite Modular Admin Toolkit 10+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #7 ↑4 8

Deep Malware Cleaner 80+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 3 too high 9

StackVane Video Import for Divi — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #6 3 too high 10

Broadcast Buddy — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 1 too high 11

Simme Media Organiser — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 1 too high 12

Menu Obfuscator 40+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑1 2 too low 13

Mobimint Mobile App Builder for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #8 5 too high 14 C CSS Email Obfuscator 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too low 15

MME-Mail to SMTP — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↑1 4 too high 16 T Text Obfuscator 20+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑1 17 H HumansNotBots – Easy, Accessible Email Cloaker 200+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too low 18

TG Email Protection 50+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19 H Hikari Email & URL Obfuscator 40+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑1 20 O ObfuscaTOR — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑1 21 H Hikari Titled Comments 20+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 ↑1

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.