wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “out link”
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 “out link”, 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
Opt-Out for Google Analytics (DSGVO / GDPR) shows at wp.org #5 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.3★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Broken Link Checker 500K+ · 3.8★ (605)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Link Library 10K+ · 4.7★ (97)
wp.org #3 4 
Broken Link Checker by AIOSEO – Find & Fix Broken Internal, External & Video Links 200K+ · 3.8★ (87)
wp.org #4 5 
Link Whisper Free 30K+ · 4.2★ (151)
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too low 7 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too low 8 
Visual Link Preview 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too high 9 
Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121)
wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too low 10 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #17 ↓2 7 too low 11 
ThirstyAffiliates – Affiliate Links, Link Branding, Link Tracking & Marketing Plugin 30K+ · 4.6★ (251)
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #23 11 too low 13 
Internal Link Juicer: SEO Auto Linker for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (537)
wp.org #19 ↑1 6 too low 14 
Link Juice Keeper 10K+ · 4.7★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #8 6 too high 15 P Page Links To 100K+ · 4.9★ (157)
wp.org #20 ↑1 5 too low 16 
BetterLinks – Link Shortener, Link Cloaking, Redirects, Affiliate Link Manager & MCP 20K+ · 4.8★ (85)
wp.org #18 ↑1 2 too low 17 
Campos Checkout Brasileiro para WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (45)
wp.org #15 ↑3 2 too high 18 Opt-Out for Google Analytics (DSGVO / GDPR) 3K+ · 4.3★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↑2 13 too high 19 
Comment Link Remove and Other Comment Tools 8K+ · 4.1★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #9 10 too high 20 
Broken Link Notifier 1K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑1 8 too high 21 
Amazon Link Engine 2K+ · 4.4★ (31)
wp.org #21 ↑1 22 
Link Checker 4K+ · 3.2★ (30)
wp.org #16 6 too high 23 
Out of the Block: OpenStreetMap 800+ · 4.4★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↑2 1 too high 24 
Affiliate Link Marker 400+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.