wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “popout”
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 “popout”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
All Social Share – Sticky & Floating Share Buttons for WordPress shows at wp.org #5 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 20+ 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
IgnitionDeck Crowdfunding Platform places #7 on merit, 3.7★ from 90 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging 100K+ · 4.6★ (820)
wp.org #8 5 too low 4 
Admin Management Xtended 5K+ · 4.6★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Video Gallery by Huzzaz 900+ · 4.4★ (44) closure risk stale but ranked
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 
HollerBox — Fast & Effective Popups & Lead-Generation 2K+ · 4.8★ (32)
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 IgnitionDeck Crowdfunding Platform 100+ · 3.7★ (90)
wp.org #15 8 too low 8 
Pattern CSS – The CSS Editor For Blocks 100+ · 5.0★ (8) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #12 4 too low 9 
StoreGrowth – Upsell, BOGO, Quick View, Direct Checkout & Side Cart for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too low 10 V VB Popout Banner — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 6 too high 11 
Theme Blvd Layout Builder 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 8 too low 12 
Freemius for WordPress 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Easy Featured Images 1K+ · 4.7★ (7) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 9 too low 14 
Gapify AI Customer Communication 40+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 7 too high 15 
ConversionCow 20+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 9 too high 16 All Social Share – Sticky & Floating Share Buttons for WordPress 20+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #5 11 too high 17 
Captain Social Review — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 
Kogility Image Editor for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
Material FAQ Manager — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too high 20 
Aklamator PopUp — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 2 too high 21 E EZ powerPress/podPress Addon Widget 20+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 S Social Sidebar 20+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 F Floating Social Media Popout Buttons 10+ · 3.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 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.