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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pin it”

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 “pin it”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 5 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

Simple Pin It Button for Pinterest shows at wp.org #3 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #1 2 Weblizar Pin It Button On Image Hover And Post 10K+ · 4.0★ (64) wp.org #2 3 Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587) wp.org #9 ↓2 4 too low 6 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525) wp.org #12 6 too low 7 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680) wp.org #11 ↑5 4 too low 8 WP Recipe Maker 50K+ · 5.0★ (356) wp.org #10 ↑5 2 too low 9 GS Pinterest Portfolio – Pins Grid, Masonry, User Profile, Popup & Board Widgets 1K+ · 4.8★ (47) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #17 7 too low 11 Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #15 ↓5 4 too low 12 Animation Addons – Elementor Addons, GSAP Animations, Elementor V4 Atomic Widgets & Elementor Templates 10K+ · 4.6★ (66) wp.org #13 1 too low 13 Tuskcode Map Pro for Bing Maps 600+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #8 5 too high 14 WPSSO Core – Complete Schema Markup and Meta Tags 4K+ · 4.6★ (306) wp.org #21 ↓4 7 too low 15 Ultimate Maps by Supsystic – OpenStreetMap, Leaflet & Mapbox, No API Key 10K+ · 4.6★ (86) wp.org #18 3 too low 16 HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) wp.org #23 ↓1 7 too low 17 Pinterest for WooCommerce 200K+ · 2.3★ (68) wp.org #4 13 too high 18 Simple Pin It Button for Pinterest 3K+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #3 15 too high 19 WooSwipe WooCommerce Gallery 3K+ · 4.5★ (39) wp.org #16 ↓4 3 too high 20 Recipe Card Blocks Lite 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #22 ↓4 2 too low 21 WP MapIt 2K+ · 4.7★ (11) wp.org #20 ↓7 1 too high 22 KeepInMind Dashboard Notes 300+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #24 ↓5 2 too low 23 Key Manager – Effortlessly sell license keys, game keys, pin codes, gift cards, and more with WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 ↓3 9 too high 24 Gmap Block 10K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓5 5 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.