wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “plugin collections”
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 “plugin collections”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 4 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
WPC Smart Product Collections for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #9 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #8 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 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★ (8708)
wp.org #1 2 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #2 3 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 
WPCore Plugin Manager 9K+ · 4.8★ (32)
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too low 13 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #20 7 too low 14 
HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #19 5 too low 15 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
Stop Spammers Classic 20K+ · 4.4★ (243)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
AWP Classifieds 3K+ · 4.6★ (301) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↑1 4 too high 18 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 
Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420)
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
GenerateBlocks 200K+ · 4.9★ (122)
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 3 too high 22 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #15 7 too high 23 
User Post Collections 20+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #21 2 too high 24 WPC Smart Product Collections for WooCommerce 200+ · 3.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑1 15 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.