wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “operating system”
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 “operating system”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
atec System Info shows at wp.org #2 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 2215 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #1 ↑2 2 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1238)
wp.org #7 ↑9 4 too low 4 
Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 300K+ · 4.9★ (2433)
wp.org #9 ↑3 4 too low 6 
WP Visitor Statistics (Real Time Traffic) 20K+ · 4.5★ (156)
wp.org #6 7 
System Dashboard 900+ · 4.9★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 too high 8 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220)
wp.org #8 ↓2 9 
Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245)
wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too low 10 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. 200K+ · 4.7★ (2215)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
Lara's Google Analytics (GA4) 8K+ · 4.7★ (122)
wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too high 13 
PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls, Block Visibility, Block Permissions 20K+ · 4.7★ (204)
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 atec System Info 200+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↓1 12 too high 15 
HandL UTM Grabber / Tracker 10K+ · 4.8★ (146)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
WebToffee WP Backup and Migration 5K+ · 4.5★ (49)
wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too high 17 
Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews 20K+ · 4.9★ (184)
wp.org #23 ↓6 6 too low 18 
Woody Code Snippets – Insert PHP, CSS, JS, and Header/Footer Scripts 50K+ · 4.5★ (221)
wp.org #21 ↑1 3 too low 19 
Analytics Insights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (34)
wp.org #17 ↑1 2 too high 20 
Server IP & Memory Usage Display 20K+ · 4.9★ (40)
wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 
WP-ServerInfo 10K+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Server Info – System Health & Diagnostics Suite 3K+ · 3.8★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓4 9 too high 23 
Base (formerly BaseLinker) – 300+ marketplaces, 150+ carriers & PIM & OMS & WMS in one 5K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 
System Requirements Check 30+ · 4.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓4 6 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.