wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “offline backup”
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 “offline backup”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20.
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
Media Library Downloader shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF places #8 on merit, 4.5★ from 830 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.
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #1 2 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323)
wp.org #2 3 
BlogVault Backup & Staging 80K+ · 4.6★ (332)
wp.org #3 4 
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #5 ↑2 1 too low 5 
LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708)
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 
Jetpack VaultPress Backup 20K+ · 4.5★ (35)
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830)
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
Charitable – Donation & Fundraising Platform (Donation Forms, Recurring Donations & Fundraising Campaigns) 10K+ · 4.9★ (219)
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 
CF7 Apps – Addons for Contact Form 7 (Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, etc.) 300K+ · 3.8★ (135)
wp.org #7 ↓1 4 too high 12 
PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions 90K+ · 4.7★ (143)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
WPIDE – File Manager & Code Editor 40K+ · 4.8★ (306)
wp.org #17 4 too low 14 
Export WordPress Pages to Static HTML & PDF — Static Site Export 4K+ · 3.8★ (51)
wp.org #8 ↑2 6 too high 15 
Print My Blog – Print, PDF, & eBook Converter WordPress Plugin 8K+ · 4.8★ (115)
wp.org #18 ↓2 3 too low 16 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #24 ↓1 8 too low 17 
HTML5 Audio Player – The Ultimate No-Code Podcast, MP3 & Audio Player 10K+ · 4.6★ (169)
wp.org #23 ↓1 6 too low 18 
Meow Mailer – Free SMTP, Everything Included 900+ · 5.0★ (26)
wp.org #15 ↑2 3 too high 19 
Wise Chat 4K+ · 4.4★ (105)
wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too low 20 
Module Control for Jetpack 1K+ · 4.8★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21 Media Library Downloader 5K+ · 4.8★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #14 7 too high 22 
Hyper PWA – Bringing Modern Progressive Web App Experiences 400+ · 4.7★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too high 23 
Record of Consent Extension for Complianz 700+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 
Coming Soon Maintenance Mode 6K+ · 4.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 2 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.