wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “plugin info”
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 info”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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 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
Info Cards – Add Text and Media in Card Layouts shows at wp.org #6 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 14387 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.
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #4 ↑2 1 too low 4 
WP Plugin Info Card – Showcase Beautiful Plugin, Theme, and GitHub Cards Anywhere 400+ · 5.0★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↑1 2 too high 5 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #7 ↑6 2 too low 6 
WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (855)
wp.org #11 ↓1 5 too low 7 
Plugin Report 1K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↑2 2 too high 8 
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9 
SEOPress – AI SEO Plugin & On-site SEO 300K+ · 4.8★ (1267)
wp.org #18 ↑4 9 too low 10 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #23 ↓2 13 too low 11 
Version Info – Server Health Monitor, PHP & MySQL Version Display, Environment Indicators 10K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↑3 3 too high 12 
GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) heavy footprint
wp.org #20 8 too low 13 
Plugin Notes Plus 9K+ · 5.0★ (62)
wp.org #14 ↑3 1 too low 14 
Payment Plugins for PayPal WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (127) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too low 16 
Sitemap by BestWebSoft – WordPress XML Site Map Page Generator Plugin 20K+ · 4.3★ (115)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Plugin Check (PCP) 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #13 ↑2 4 too high 18 
atec Cache Info 1K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑2 8 too high 19 
Better Plugin Compatibility Control 4K+ · 4.3★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑2 3 too high 20 Info Cards – Add Text and Media in Card Layouts 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑3 14 too high 21 
Server Info – System Health & Diagnostics Suite 3K+ · 3.8★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too high 22 
Enhanced Plugin Admin 100+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑3 1 too high 23 
Extension Info Exporter 200+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
atec System Info 200+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
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.