wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “plugin usage”
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 usage”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
Plugin Memory Usage shows at wp.org #3 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 21 places. Its 600+ 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.
Buried gem
WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 14387 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #1 2 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too low 4 
WP-Memory-Usage 10K+ · 4.5★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #4 5 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑1 2 too low 6 
Disk Usage Sunburst 9K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Coupon Affiliates – Affiliate Plugin for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (77) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #18 ↓4 9 too low 10 
GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387)
wp.org #24 ↓2 13 too low 12 
Server IP & Memory Usage Display 20K+ · 4.9★ (40)
wp.org #12 ↓1 13 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #19 ↓1 6 too low 14 
GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) heavy footprint
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
Plugin Notes Plus 9K+ · 5.0★ (62)
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #23 ↓2 7 too low 17 
Disk Usage Insights 1K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #9 8 too high 18 
Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157)
wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19 
Plugin Check (PCP) 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #13 ↓1 6 too high 20 
Plugin Load Filter 7K+ · 4.8★ (52)
wp.org #17 3 too high 21 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too low 22 
AWP Classifieds 3K+ · 4.6★ (301) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
WP Plugin Manager – Deactivate plugins per page 3K+ · 4.4★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑1 8 too high 24 Plugin Memory Usage 600+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #3 21 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.