wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “page modified”
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 “page modified”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 2 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
HTML Page Publisher shows at wp.org #12 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Stackable – Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 522 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (855)
wp.org #2 3 
Show modified Date in admin lists 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #3 4 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #7 ↑1 3 too low 5 
Page scroll to id 100K+ · 4.9★ (225) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Loading Page with Loading Screen 10K+ · 4.6★ (124)
wp.org #6 ↑1 7 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too low 8 
Post and Page Builder by BoldGrid – Visual Drag and Drop Editor 50K+ · 4.7★ (140)
wp.org #8 ↑1 9 
Last Modified Timestamp 6K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #5 ↑1 4 too high 10 
Nested Pages 90K+ · 4.7★ (126)
wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11 
NextMove Lite – Thank You Page for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (150)
wp.org #16 ↑2 5 too low 12 Stackable – Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks 100K+ · 4.9★ (522) heavy footprint
wp.org #18 ↑4 6 too low 13 
Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster 100K+ · 4.9★ (1564) not PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓6 8 too low 14 I Insert Pages 30K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #14 ↑3 15 
AMP for WP – Accelerated Mobile Pages 70K+ · 4.4★ (1319) heavy footprint
wp.org #22 ↑1 7 too low 16 
HTML Page Sitemap (Block and Shortcode) 10K+ · 4.4★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 5 too high 17 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
CC Child Pages 9K+ · 4.9★ (49)
wp.org #17 ↑3 1 too high 19 
Page and Post Restriction 1K+ · 4.3★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 4 too high 20 
Passster – Password Protect Pages and Content 10K+ · 4.2★ (60) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↓5 1 too high 21 
Fusion Page Builder 3K+ · 4.7★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Duplicate Page or Post 9K+ · 4.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑3 9 too high 23 HTML Page Publisher 500+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #12 11 too high 24 
Pantheon Advanced Page Cache 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 4 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.