wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pop plugin”
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 “pop plugin”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 7 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
CM Pop-Up – Create engaging popups to capture attention and boost interaction shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 8K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.4★ average from 13 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty places #5 on merit, 5.0★ from 1244 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. 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 ↓1 3 
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Pop-up 10K+ · 4.7★ (86)
wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too high 5 Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too low 6 
Payment Plugins for Stripe WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.8★ (303) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too high 8 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143)
wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #14 ↓3 5 too low 10 
Plugin Organizer 10K+ · 4.7★ (227) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too high 11 
Coupon X – Discount Popups, Promo Codes Pop Ups for WooCommerce & Announcement Popups 1K+ · 4.9★ (52)
wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too high 12 
Website Pop-up Builder by BDOW! (formerly Sumo): Pop-ups + forms for email opt-ins and lead generation 10K+ · 4.2★ (519)
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups 80K+ · 4.4★ (859)
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too low 14 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too low 16 
MC4WP: Mailchimp for WordPress 1M+ · 4.8★ (1497)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Popup Builder – Create highly converting, mobile friendly marketing popups. 200K+ · 4.7★ (2215) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too low 18 
Popup Maker – Responsive popup, Exit Intent Pop up, Email Optins, Autoresponder & More 7K+ · 4.5★ (144)
wp.org #18 ↓1 19 
Payment Plugins Braintree For WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.8★ (149)
wp.org #22 ↑1 3 too low 20 
Ultimate FAQ Accordion Plugin 30K+ · 4.6★ (439) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too high 21 
Interactive Image Map Plugin – Draw Attention 20K+ · 4.9★ (114) not PHP-current
wp.org #21 22 
POP – e-invoicing for WooCommerce: SdI, PEPPOL, KSeF (ex-WooPop) 90+ · 4.9★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 CM Pop-Up – Create engaging popups to capture attention and boost interaction 8K+ · 3.4★ (13) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 14 too high 24 
Feeds for TikTok (TikTok feed, video, and gallery plugin) 70K+ · 4.3★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↑1 1 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.