wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “post layout”
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 layout”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Post Layouts shows at wp.org #5 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 900+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 4 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 #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. 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 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Blog Post Layouts 9K+ · 4.7★ (83)
wp.org #3 4 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #4 ↑2 1 too high 6 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1237)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #8 9 
Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (210)
wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too low 10 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333)
wp.org #16 ↓5 6 too low 11 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too high 12 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #23 11 too low 13 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #13 ↓1 14 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #21 7 too low 15 
Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail) 40K+ · 3.8★ (119)
wp.org #15 ↑5 16 
Post Slider and Post Carousel with Post Vertical Scrolling Widget – A Responsive Post Slider 10K+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 
WP Popular Posts 100K+ · 4.5★ (249)
wp.org #24 ↓9 7 too low 18 
Display Post Types – Post Grid, post list and post sliders 8K+ · 5.0★ (26)
wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too low 19 
Duplicate Page and Post 70K+ · 4.6★ (29)
wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too low 20 Post Layouts 900+ · 4.5★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓1 15 too high 21 
Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓3 4 too high 22 
Duplicate Post – duplicate pages, copy content, clone posts 5K+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #12 10 too high 23 
Cards Layout – showcase content in responsive card grids 500+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24 
Themify Portfolio Post 30K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 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.