wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “post import”
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 import”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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
Advanced Import shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 80K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #10 on merit, 5.0★ from 1525 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #1 2 
WP All Import – Drag & Drop Import for CSV, XML, Excel & Google Sheets 100K+ · 4.7★ (1966)
wp.org #2 3 
Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #3 4 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1236)
wp.org #10 ↑12 5 too low 6 
Customizer Export/Import 100K+ · 4.8★ (115)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 
One Click Demo Import 1M+ · 4.3★ (79) host-installed base
wp.org #4 ↑1 3 too high 8 
Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172)
wp.org #9 ↓2 1 too low 9 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #18 ↓5 9 too low 10 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525)
wp.org #21 11 too low 11 
WP All Import – Product Import for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (276)
wp.org #17 ↓1 6 too low 12 
WP Import Export Lite 40K+ · 4.0★ (113)
wp.org #11 ↑7 1 too high 13 
Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.7★ (337) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 
Product Import Export for WooCommerce – CSV Product Importer & Exporter 80K+ · 4.6★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↓4 1 too high 16 
WP All Import – Import Add-On for ACF 50K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #6 10 too high 17 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 
Import Users from CSV 10K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too high 19 Advanced Import 80K+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑1 12 too high 20 
Rate My Post – Star Rating Plugin by FeedbackWP 20K+ · 4.7★ (159) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
Post Export Import with Media 1K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
Duplicate Post – duplicate pages, copy content, clone posts 5K+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
WP All Import – Import SEO Settings for Rank Math SEO 6K+ · 4.5★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 10 too high 24 
WP All Import – Import SEO Settings for Yoast SEO 20K+ · 2.8★ (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.