wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “past”
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 “past”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
noindex Past Events for The Events Calendar shows at wp.org #1 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 50+ 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
Email Subscribers & Newsletters by Icegram Express – Email Marketing, Post Notifications & WooCommerce Marekting Automation for WordPress places #10 on merit, 4.6★ from 1170 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.
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
WP Accessibility 60K+ · 4.8★ (68)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Popups for Divi 100K+ · 4.8★ (442)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
VS Event List 8K+ · 4.9★ (82)
wp.org #4 5 
Customer Reviews for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (1539)
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 
WP Downgrade | Specific Core Version 100K+ · 4.8★ (169)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
reSmush.it : The original free image compressor and optimizer plugin 100K+ · 4.3★ (166)
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Sticky Menu & Sticky Header 90K+ · 4.7★ (763)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Email Subscribers & Newsletters by Icegram Express – Email Marketing, Post Notifications & WooCommerce Marekting Automation for WordPress 50K+ · 4.6★ (1170)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
Internal Links Manager 10K+ · 4.8★ (33)
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 
YOP Poll 10K+ · 4.4★ (452)
wp.org #16 4 too low 13 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #20 7 too low 14 
We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45)
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 
Coupon Affiliates – Affiliate Plugin for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (77)
wp.org #15 16 
Boxzilla – WordPress Popup Builder 20K+ · 4.8★ (133)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 noindex Past Events for The Events Calendar 50+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #1 16 too high 18 
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) – Email Newsletter, Email Marketing, Membership, Subscribers and Landing Pages 40K+ · 4.8★ (90)
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #13 6 too high 20 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
Event Post 1K+ · 4.3★ (35)
wp.org #18 3 too high 22 
Worth The Read 3K+ · 4.3★ (27)
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Easy Actions Scheduler Cleaner 900+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
Date Picker For Contact Form 7 4K+ · 3.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #14 10 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.