wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “plus slider”
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 “plus slider”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20.
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
GutSlider – All in One Slider and Carousel Blocks for Gutenberg shows at wp.org #9 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 4132 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider 500K+ · 4.6★ (743)
wp.org #1 2 
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (236)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Embed Plus for YouTube Gallery, Livestream and Lazy Loading with Facades 100K+ · 4.6★ (572)
wp.org #4 ↑1 5 
Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery 300K+ · 4.3★ (4342)
wp.org #5 ↓2 6 
Logo Slider – Logo Showcase, Logo Carousel, Logo Gallery and Client Logo Presentation 30K+ · 4.7★ (252)
wp.org #6 7 
The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388)
wp.org #7 8 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #12 ↓2 4 too low 9 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #14 ↑2 5 too low 10 
WP TripAdvisor Review Slider 8K+ · 4.8★ (135)
wp.org #10 ↑1 11 
Logo Slider WP – Responsive Logo Carousel, Logo Gallery & Logo Showcase 10K+ · 4.5★ (61)
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 
Ultimate Before After Image Slider & Gallery – BEAF 30K+ · 4.9★ (107)
wp.org #15 ↓2 3 too low 13 
Carousel Slider Block for Gutenberg 50K+ · 4.8★ (59)
wp.org #13 ↑1 14 
Slider Hero with Video Background, Animation 3K+ · 4.8★ (34)
wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too high 15 
WP Review Slider 6K+ · 4.8★ (181)
wp.org #20 ↑1 5 too low 16 
WP Airbnb Review Slider 1K+ · 5.0★ (56)
wp.org #16 ↑1 17 GutSlider – All in One Slider and Carousel Blocks for Gutenberg 6K+ · 4.9★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #9 8 too high 18 
Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
Elements Plus! 6K+ · 4.8★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
Divi Carousel Lite – Responsive Carousel & Slider Modules for Divi Builder 6K+ · 4.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too low 21 
MetaSlider Gallery – Image Gallery, Lightbox Galleries, Video Galleries 10K+ · 4.4★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓4 2 too high 22 
Simple Slider Block – Create Sliders From Core Blocks 600+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑2 4 too high 23 D Daddy Plus 8K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
Image Slider Slideshow 2K+ · 4.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 7 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.