wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “open data”
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 “open data”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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
Open Graphite shows at wp.org #8 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.3★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 7520 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Social Preview and Open Graph Tags 50K+ · 4.6★ (122)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #3 ↑2 4 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #9 5 too low 5 
We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #5 ↓2 1 too high 7 
Data Tables Generator by Supsystic – Excel-like, WooCommerce & Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.7★ (497)
wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too low 8 
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) not PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑7 3 too low 9 Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7520)
wp.org #18 ↑1 9 too low 10 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #16 ↓1 6 too low 11 
Head Meta Data 10K+ · 4.8★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 
GDPR Data Request Form 5K+ · 4.9★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #6 6 too high 13 
Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (472)
wp.org #17 ↓5 4 too low 14 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #21 7 too low 15 
SureRank SEO – Meta Tags, Social Preview, XML Sitemap, Schema & Open Graph 300K+ · 4.8★ (51)
wp.org #13 2 too high 16 
Open Graph Protocol Framework 3K+ · 4.3★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #10 6 too high 17 
Product Open Pricing (Name Your Price) for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.1★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑2 3 too high 18 
Open Graph 10K+ · 4.3★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑2 3 too high 19 Open Graphite 3K+ · 3.3★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #8 11 too high 20 
Data Source for Contact Form 7 300+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 
Block Data Attribute 300+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑3 2 too high 22 
Open Search Document 200+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Open Accessibility 50+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 
Open Source Event Calendar 100+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #22 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.