wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “post layouts”
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 layouts”, 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
Post Layouts shows at wp.org #3 but places #18 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
WP Popular Posts places #12 on merit, 4.5★ from 249 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.
WP Blog Post Layouts 9K+ · 4.7★ (83)
wp.org #1 2 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (581)
wp.org #6 3 too low 4 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #4 5 
Custom Post Type UI 1M+ · 4.6★ (276)
wp.org #5 6 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #9 3 too low 7 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7308) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 
Gravity Booster – Styles & Layouts for Gravity Forms 30K+ · 4.6★ (199)
wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too low 9 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #12 ↑1 3 too low 10 
Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (209) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↑1 1 too low 11 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 WP Popular Posts 100K+ · 4.5★ (249)
wp.org #20 ↑2 8 too low 13 
Post Grid Gutenberg Blocks – PostX 30K+ · 4.8★ (265) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↓4 1 too low 14 
Product Layouts for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑1 7 too high 15 
Custom Layouts – Post + Product grids made easy 3K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #15 16 
Post Slider and Post Carousel with Post Vertical Scrolling Widget – A Responsive Post Slider 10K+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
Auto Featured Image (Auto Post Thumbnail) 40K+ · 3.8★ (118) not PHP-current
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 Post Layouts 900+ · 4.5★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↓1 15 too high 19 
Display Post Types – Post Grid, post list and post sliders 7K+ · 5.0★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 
Layouts for Divi 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 7 too high 21 
Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 3 too high 22 
Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Duplicate Page and Post 70K+ · 4.6★ (29) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
Themify Portfolio Post 30K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.