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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “p2”

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 “p2”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 3 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

410Gone Consent Manager for Google Consent Mode and GTM shows at wp.org #11 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 40+ 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.

S

Buried gem

SyntaxHighlighter Evolved places #5 on merit, 4.3★ from 86 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 ELEX WooCommerce Dynamic Pricing and Discounts 700+ · 4.3★ (13) wp.org #1 2 B BuddyPress Groupblog 50+ · 3.3★ (11) wp.org #2 3 Multiple Themes 10K+ · 4.7★ (50) wp.org #10 7 too low 4 Product Price by Formula for WooCommerce 100+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #4 5 S SyntaxHighlighter Evolved 20K+ · 4.3★ (86) wp.org #13 8 too low 6 Brief Message 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 Checkout.com Payment Gateway 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 5 too low 8 NetDraw — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 3 too high 9 Realtivo-Resales Online for Houzez 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 3 too high 10 Split order by weight for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 3 too high 11 Content Refresh Assistant — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 3 too high 12 P2 Likes 10+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #23 11 too low 13 4WP SEO Helper — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 P P2 Resolved Posts 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 3 too low 15 S Spectacu.la Discussion 60+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 410Gone Consent Manager for Google Consent Mode and GTM 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 5 too high 17 LC Smart Media Redirect & Cleaner — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 SignalSight Conversion API — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 2 too high 19 ByticsLab Conditional Offers for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 5 too high 20 I Infinite Scroll for P2 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 2 too low 21 P2 Header Ad 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 3 too high 22 P Post Deadlines 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 3 too high 23 S Show More for P2 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 Network Restricted Members 10+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.