wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “post query”
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 query”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
Query Loop Post Selector shows at wp.org #7 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 600+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 27821 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. 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 
Query Monitor 200K+ · 4.9★ (470)
wp.org #2 3 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #3 4 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1236)
wp.org #5 ↑6 1 too low 5 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Content Views – Post Grid & Filter (Shortcode, Blocks, Elementor Widgets) 100K+ · 4.8★ (333) heavy footprint
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 
Advanced Queries 10K+ · 4.9★ (40)
wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #10 ↑2 2 too low 9 
Advanced Query Loop 6K+ · 4.6★ (30)
wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too high 10 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #22 ↓1 11 too low 12 
Post Duplicator 200K+ · 4.8★ (80)
wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too high 13 
Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (210) heavy footprint
wp.org #13 14 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too high 15 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #15 16 
Public Post Preview 100K+ · 4.6★ (79)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
Rate My Post – Star Rating Plugin by FeedbackWP 20K+ · 4.7★ (159) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 
W4 Post List 3K+ · 4.7★ (94)
wp.org #21 ↓1 3 too low 19 
Custom Post Type Permalinks 200K+ · 4.8★ (71)
wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too low 20 Query Loop Post Selector 600+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 13 too high 21 
Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 3 too low 22 
Advanced Post Block – Display Your Posts Exactly How You Want 10K+ · 4.2★ (17) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23 
Query Loop Load More 800+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 
Contact Form Query 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 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.