wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pending comments”
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 “pending comments”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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 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
AI shows at wp.org #10 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 60K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 10 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance places #5 on merit, 4.9★ from 1962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Comments – wpDiscuz 60K+ · 4.7★ (581) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 
WP Comment Cleaner – Delete All Comments, Disable Comments, Bulk Delete & Remove Comments 20K+ · 4.7★ (58)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #11 ↓5 6 too low 6 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #12 ↑3 6 too low 7 
Comment Link Remove and Other Comment Tools 8K+ · 4.1★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↓1 5 too high 8 W WP Photo Album Plus 10K+ · 4.7★ (199) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑3 1 too high 9 
bbPress 100K+ · 3.9★ (343)
wp.org #9 ↓2 10 
ActiveLayer Anti-Spam: Spam Protection for Forms & Comments 10K+ · 4.9★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓1 5 too high 11 
Customize WordPress Emails and Alerts – Better Notifications for WP 30K+ · 4.8★ (184)
wp.org #14 ↓5 3 too low 12 
Disqus Comment System 30K+ · 2.7★ (219)
wp.org #8 4 too high 13 D Delete Pending Comments 8K+ · 4.7★ (94) closure risk
wp.org #17 ↓4 4 too low 14 
Comments – GraphComment | AI-Moderated Comment System 400+ · 4.7★ (30)
wp.org #13 ↓2 1 too high 15 
Bulk Delete 30K+ · 4.3★ (129)
wp.org #20 ↓2 5 too low 16 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too low 17 
WP-Sweep 100K+ · 4.7★ (138)
wp.org #24 ↓2 7 too low 18 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #21 ↓2 3 too low 19 
Ultimate FAQ Accordion Plugin 30K+ · 4.6★ (439) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓2 4 too low 20 AI 60K+ · 4.2★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #10 10 too high 21 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too low 22 
Comment Approved Notifier Extended 500+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 6 too high 23 
WP Comment Notification 400+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓3 8 too high 24 
Comments Deletion 100+ · 0.0★ (0) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 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.