wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “post javascript”
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 javascript”, 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
Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor shows at wp.org #11 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 18 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 4228 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. 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 
CSS & JavaScript Toolbox 10K+ · 4.8★ (84)
wp.org #2 3 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #3 4 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1236)
wp.org #4 ↑3 5 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #5 ↓1 6 
Post Type Switcher 200K+ · 4.8★ (255)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525)
wp.org #12 ↑6 5 too low 8 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too high 9 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
Post Slider and Post Carousel with Post Vertical Scrolling Widget – A Responsive Post Slider 10K+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #20 9 too low 12 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too low 14 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #21 7 too low 15 
WP Popular Posts 100K+ · 4.5★ (249)
wp.org #19 ↓7 4 too low 16 
W4 Post List 3K+ · 4.7★ (94)
wp.org #17 ↑2 1 too low 17 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #23 ↓8 6 too low 18 
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↓8 19 
Display Post Types – Post Grid, post list and post sliders 8K+ · 5.0★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↑1 9 too high 20 
Content Blocks (Custom Post Widget) 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #24 ↓2 4 too low 21 
Hide Page And Post Title 40K+ · 3.6★ (54)
wp.org #16 ↑1 5 too high 22 Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑2 11 too high 23 
Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 9 too high 24 
Menu In Post 2K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 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.