wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “optin forms”

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 “optin forms”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 8 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

GetResponse Forms by Optin Cat shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 9 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Under Construction places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 1285 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Optin Forms – Simple List Building Plugin for WordPress 2K+ · 4.6★ (72) wp.org #1 2

Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups 80K+ · 4.4★ (859) wp.org #2 3

Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221) wp.org #3 4

Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #5 1 too low 5

MailOptin – Popup, Optin Forms & Email Newsletters for Mailchimp, HubSpot, AWeber Etc. 10K+ · 4.8★ (438) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 1 too high 6

FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250) wp.org #6 ↑1 7

Brave – Create Popup, Optins, Lead Generation, Survey, Sticky Elements & Interactive Content 20K+ · 4.8★ (209) wp.org #11 ↑7 4 too low 8

hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88) wp.org #8 9

CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes 200K+ · 4.7★ (326) wp.org #13 4 too low 10

Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too high 11

Under Construction 600K+ · 4.8★ (1285) wp.org #17 ↓5 6 too low 12

Noptin – Newsletter, New Post Notifications & Email Automation 10K+ · 4.5★ (120) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 3 too high 13

Subscribe Forms – Beautiful Email Forms, Embedded Newsletter Forms & MailChimp Form 2K+ · 4.7★ (60) wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14

Popup Maker – Responsive popup, Exit Intent Pop up, Email Optins, Autoresponder & More 7K+ · 4.5★ (144) wp.org #19 5 too low 15

WP Optin Wheel – Gamified Optin Email Marketing Tool for WordPress and WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.9★ (81) wp.org #21 6 too low 16

MailMunch – Grow your Email List 5K+ · 4.7★ (241) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17

Forms for Mailchimp by Optin Cat – Grow Your MailChimp List 2K+ · 4.4★ (77) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #14 3 too high 18

MailChimp Subscribe Form, Optin Builder, PopUp Builder, Form Builder 2K+ · 4.0★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #16 2 too high 19

GetResponse Forms by Optin Cat 1K+ · 4.9★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 9 too high 20

Integration for Elementor forms – Sendinblue 8K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↑1 3 too low 21

AWeber Forms by Optin Cat 300+ · 3.7★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #15 6 too high 22

Social Sharing Plugin – Kiwi 4K+ · 4.1★ (18) thin reviews wp.org #24 2 too low 23

Newsletter Subscription Form – User Subscriptions Form, Capture Email 1K+ · 4.3★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24

Campaign Monitor Forms by Optin Cat 200+ · 3.9★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑2 4 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.