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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “overview”

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 “overview”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 4 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

Forms Overview for Elementor shows at wp.org #7 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 60+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Admin Columns places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 1652 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 Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too low 2 All in One SEO – AI SEO Plugin to Boost SEO Rankings & Traffic (Schema, Local SEO, Sitemap & SEO Insights) 2M+ · 4.7★ (5231) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 PublishPress Planner – Editorial Calendar, Marketing Content, Kanban Board 6K+ · 4.9★ (178) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759) wp.org #8 ↑6 3 too low 6 Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167) wp.org #9 ↑4 3 too low 7 Query Monitor 200K+ · 4.9★ (470) wp.org #13 ↓4 6 too low 8 Antispam Bee 700K+ · 4.8★ (226) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 GEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO 30K+ · 4.6★ (683) wp.org #16 ↓4 7 too low 10 WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915) wp.org #15 ↓1 5 too low 11 Admin Columns 100K+ · 4.9★ (1652) wp.org #21 ↓4 10 too low 12 SlimStat Analytics – Real-Time Stats, Heatmaps & Ecommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (816) wp.org #12 ↑7 13 InfiniteWP Client 200K+ · 4.4★ (177) wp.org #14 ↑2 1 too low 14 Stock Market Overview 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #1 ↑1 13 too high 15 WP ULike – Like Buttons, Voting & Engagement Analytics 60K+ · 4.8★ (283) wp.org #20 ↑2 5 too low 16 GetGenie – AI SEO Assistant & Content Writer with Keyword Research, AEO & GEO 70K+ · 4.8★ (119) wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too low 17 Editorial Calendar 20K+ · 4.9★ (79) wp.org #23 ↑1 6 too low 18 External Links Overview 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #4 14 too high 19 Easy MCP AI – Connect Claude to WordPress: MCP Server for ChatGPT & AI Agents 30K+ · 4.9★ (16) wp.org #22 3 too low 20 Mark Posts 1K+ · 4.8★ (10) wp.org #19 ↑2 1 too high 21 Hostinger Reach – AI-Powered Email Marketing for WordPress 1M+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Forms Overview for Elementor 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 15 too high 23 Gutenverse Form – Contact Form Builder, Block Form & Booking Form 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↓2 13 too high 24 Components Overview for Flynt 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↑2 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.