wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “post filter”
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 “post filter”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Filter Gallery shows at wp.org #17 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.6★ average from 22 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Post Views Counter places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 1236 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.
Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154)
wp.org #1 2 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 
Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158)
wp.org #4 ↑2 1 too low 4 
Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #8 ↓3 3 too low 6 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #6 ↑4 7 
Product Filter for WooCommerce by WBW 50K+ · 4.8★ (325)
wp.org #9 ↑3 2 too low 8 
YMC Filter 4K+ · 4.8★ (34)
wp.org #5 ↓2 3 too high 9 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #11 ↓3 2 too low 10 Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1236)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 
HUSKY – Products Filter for WooCommerce Professional. MCP is onboard 80K+ · 4.6★ (337) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑2 4 too high 12 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #12 ↓5 13 
Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too high 14 
Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #13 2 too high 16 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #19 ↓2 2 too low 18 
Post Type Switcher 200K+ · 4.8★ (255)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #18 ↓4 1 too high 20 
Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (210) heavy footprint
wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #21 ↓1 22 Filter Gallery 3K+ · 4.6★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23 
Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 
Duplicate Post – duplicate pages, copy content, clone posts 5K+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.