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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “os detection”

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 “os detection”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 5 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

Newsroom OS – Google Discover, Google News, Schema & Editorial Workflow shows at wp.org #8 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Smart Marketing SMS and Newsletters Forms places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 154 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322) wp.org #1 2 NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 SlimStat Analytics – Real-Time Stats, Heatmaps & Ecommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (816) wp.org #3 ↑3 1 too high 5 Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 Inactive Logout 10K+ · 4.8★ (106) wp.org #9 3 too low 7 SEO Redirection Plugin – 301 Redirect Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (73) wp.org #7 8 If-So Dynamic Content – Elementor & All Page Builders Personalization 7K+ · 4.7★ (92) wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too low 9 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #4 ↓2 5 too high 10 Version Info – Server Health Monitor, PHP & MySQL Version Display, Environment Indicators 10K+ · 5.0★ (15) wp.org #10 11 Darkify – Dark Mode & Night Mode for Website & Admin (Dark Theme Included) 1K+ · 4.7★ (27) wp.org #11 ↑2 12 Smart Marketing SMS and Newsletters Forms 1K+ · 5.0★ (154) wp.org #21 9 too low 13 Barcode Generator: Print Product Labels & Order Barcode Label (A4, Thermal/Roll, Letter) 900+ · 4.5★ (74) wp.org #22 ↓2 9 too low 14 PushEngage – Web Push Notifications, WooCommerce Automation & Chat Widget 8K+ · 4.3★ (37) wp.org #24 10 too low 15 User IP and Location 3K+ · 4.2★ (9) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 CopySafe PDF Protection – Copy Protect PDF 300+ · 3.9★ (14) wp.org #18 2 too low 17 Caddy – WooCommerce Side Cart & Free Shipping Bar 3K+ · 3.9★ (20) wp.org #23 6 too low 18 CopySafe Web Protection – Copy Protect Images 800+ · 4.1★ (12) wp.org #15 3 too high 19 Lynbro Cookie Consent 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too high 20 Lead Form Builder & Contact Form 8K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too high 21 Newsroom OS – Google Discover, Google News, Schema & Editorial Workflow 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 13 too high 22 MyFast Login Guard – Login Protection & Server Info 30+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↑2 2 too high 23 Weblix Analytics – Real-Time Stats & Visitor Counter 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 4 too high 24 Device Detector 500+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #14 10 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.