wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pcloud”
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 “pcloud”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 18. 1 plugin is 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
pCloud WP Backup shows at wp.org #4 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.8★ average from 20 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 2470 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #1 2 
Backup Migration 80K+ · 4.9★ (1338)
wp.org #2 3 
WPvivid — Backup, Migration & Staging 900K+ · 4.9★ (1568)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Download Manager 100K+ · 4.1★ (1006)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (441)
wp.org #7 ↓2 2 too low 6 
JetBackup – Backup, Restore & Migrate 200K+ · 4.5★ (1056)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
Backuply – Backup, Restore, Migrate and Clone 600K+ · 4.5★ (135)
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too high 9 
Everest Backup – WordPress Cloud Backup, Migration, Restore & Cloning Plugin 3K+ · 4.4★ (45)
wp.org #9 10 
MainWP Child – Securely Connects to the MainWP Dashboard to Manage Multiple Sites 700K+ · 5.0★ (71) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too low 11 
UpdraftCentral Dashboard 5K+ · 4.5★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 4 too low 12 
SiteSkite – Secure MCP & AI WebOps. Connect ChatGPT, Claude, or Any AI Agent via MCP 200+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 pCloud WP Backup 1K+ · 2.8★ (20) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 ↓1 9 too high 14 
in1me CDN & Backups with pCloud — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 
MigrateNest – Migrate, Backup & Restore WordPress — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 2 too high 16 
Auto Backup 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 17 
Cute MediaInfo — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 1 too low 18 
pCloud Backup 50+ · 3.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓2 1 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.