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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “polygons”

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 “polygons”, 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

SnappBox shows at wp.org #9 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 400+ 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

HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 489 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) wp.org #3 ↓2 1 too low 3 MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too high 4 Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #4 ↑1 5 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 Interactive Image Map Plugin – Draw Attention 20K+ · 4.9★ (114) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 MyCryptoCheckout – Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 100+ altcoins for WooCommerce 8K+ · 4.3★ (49) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 Ultimate Maps by Supsystic – OpenStreetMap, Leaflet & Mapbox, No API Key 10K+ · 4.6★ (86) wp.org #8 9 HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) wp.org #24 ↓5 15 too low 10 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #20 ↓2 10 too low 11 Tuskcode Map Pro for Bing Maps 600+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #16 ↓1 5 too low 12 Pay With MetaMask For WooCommerce – Cryptocurrency Payment Gateway 400+ · 4.8★ (17) wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too low 13 NOWPayments for WooCommerce – Crypto Payment Gateway 3K+ · 4.1★ (16) wp.org #15 ↓1 2 too low 14 Shipping Zones by Drawing for WooCommerce 500+ · 4.1★ (24) wp.org #19 5 too low 15 IMPress for IDX Broker 7K+ · 3.1★ (34) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 Out of the Block: OpenStreetMap 800+ · 4.4★ (8) wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17 Instant Approval Payment Gateway with Instant Payouts 2K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 RiskPay Gateway: USDC Payouts for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #13 ↓1 5 too high 19 Easy 3D Viewer 1K+ · 4.1★ (12) wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too low 20 Web3 Crypto Payments by DePay for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.0★ (12) wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 Crypto Payment Gateway with Instant Payouts 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #11 10 too high 22 SnappBox 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 13 too high 23 Easy Map – Store Locator, OpenStreetMap, Google Maps, Mapbox 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓1 24 Card2Crypto Global Payment Gateway 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 12 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.