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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “plausible”

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 “plausible”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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

DateSweep – Bulk Update Post & Page Dates shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 40+ 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Plausible Analytics 10K+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #1 2 Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245) wp.org #2 3 Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167) wp.org #3 4 SEO Engine – Smart SEO with AI, Schema & Redirection for WordPress 1K+ · 4.9★ (48) wp.org #4 5 Post Pay Counter 1K+ · 4.8★ (46) wp.org #5 6 Tracking and Consent Manager – WP Full Picture 3K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #6 7 Trace My IP – Visitor IP Tracker, Stats Analytics & Page Views Counter with Email Alerts 1K+ · 4.5★ (21) wp.org #7 8 Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) wp.org #8 9 Polski for WooCommerce 60+ · 4.8★ (10) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 ConvertNow Analytics: Website Stats, Visitor Statistics, AI Traffic and Bot Filtering 70+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #14 ↑2 4 too low 11 GT Link Manager 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #9 2 too high 12 Vireo Analytics – Cookieless WordPress Stats & Google Analytics Alternative 20+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #21 ↓1 9 too low 13 PressPrimer Quiz – AI Quiz Maker, Exam Builder & LMS Assessment Plugin 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #16 ↓3 3 too low 14 Flinkform – GDPR Contact Form Builder for the Block Editor 40+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too low 15 SV Tracking Manager 1K+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too low 16 Nili AI Shopping Assistant — · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #24 ↓2 8 too low 17 Content Randomizer – Rotate Any Block 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 ↓2 18 Version Cloak 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 DateSweep – Bulk Update Post & Page Dates 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 9 too high 20 VisitStats 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21 Litlyx Analytics 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too high 22 ZAIA Security — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 1 too low 23 Page Visit Counter Analytics – Website Statistics & Google Analytics Alternative for WordPress 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 Ultimate Push Notifications 50+ · 3.0★ (4) wp.org #22 2 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.