wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “plug in”
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 “plug in”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
VK All in One Expansion Unit shows at wp.org #4 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #9 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #1 2 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #2 3 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #3 4 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 
WP Accessibility 60K+ · 4.8★ (68)
wp.org #5 ↓1 6 
Simple Page Ordering 100K+ · 4.7★ (131)
wp.org #9 3 too low 7 
Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140)
wp.org #12 ↑2 5 too low 8 
AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874)
wp.org #20 12 too low 9 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #23 14 too low 10 
Cloudinary – Deliver Images and Videos at Scale 5K+ · 4.0★ (64)
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too high 11 
Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245)
wp.org #19 ↓1 8 too low 12 
Simple Local Avatars 100K+ · 4.6★ (89)
wp.org #15 ↓2 3 too low 13 
Category Posts in Custom Menu 2K+ · 4.8★ (43)
wp.org #13 ↓3 14 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236)
wp.org #16 ↓4 2 too low 15 L Login rebuilder 20K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 8 too high 16 VK All in One Expansion Unit 100K+ · 4.0★ (7) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↓1 12 too high 17 
XPoster – Share to Bluesky and Mastodon 10K+ · 3.8★ (69)
wp.org #22 ↓3 5 too low 18 
Mailgun for WordPress 80K+ · 3.8★ (49)
wp.org #18 ↓1 19 C Contact Form 7: Accessible Defaults 5K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #10 9 too high 20 
WP Duplicate Page 60K+ · 4.2★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too high 21 
Next Active Directory Integration 2K+ · 4.8★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓4 3 too low 22 
Cincopa video and media plug-in 1K+ · 2.8★ (26)
wp.org #14 ↓3 8 too high 23 
Enable Drag and Drop on Adding Plugin Upload 40+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓3 12 too high 24 
In3 On-site Messaging plug-in for WooCommerce 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓6 3 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.