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

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 “overwrite”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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.

P

Ranked above its merit

PixCodes shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 8K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 184 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 wp.org
1 Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131) wp.org #1 2 Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343) wp.org #3 ↑1 4 Easy Auto SKU Generator for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.9★ (272) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 A ACF Post-2-Post 3K+ · 5.0★ (39) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45) wp.org #7 ↑10 1 too low 7 Bootstrap Blocks 10K+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 O Overwrite Uploads 1K+ · 3.4★ (8) wp.org #2 6 too high 9 301 Redirects & 404 Error Log 30K+ · 4.6★ (28) wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews 20K+ · 4.9★ (184) wp.org #17 ↓7 7 too low 11 Essential Real Estate 7K+ · 4.3★ (52) wp.org #13 ↑6 2 too low 12 B BuddyPress Docs 6K+ · 4.4★ (35) wp.org #14 ↓3 2 too low 13 Ultimate FAQ Accordion Plugin 30K+ · 4.6★ (439) wp.org #24 11 too low 14 SAR Friendly SMTP 2K+ · 4.6★ (46) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) wp.org #18 ↓3 3 too low 16 Advanced iFrame 40K+ · 4.4★ (54) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 Disable Updates – Updates Manager, Disable Automatic Updates, Disable All Updates 9K+ · 4.5★ (24) wp.org #11 ↑2 6 too high 18 Quick View for WooCommerce – Reno QuickView 2K+ · 4.8★ (31) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 SNY Auto Featured Image 1K+ · 4.3★ (12) wp.org #12 ↑4 7 too high 20 Most And Least Read Posts Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 P PixCodes 8K+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 O Overwrite Author Name 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↓4 6 too high 23 Auto Focus Keyword for SEO 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 VK Google Job Posting Manager 2K+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↓1 9 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.