wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “postratings”

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 “postratings”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

Recently shows at wp.org #7 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 9 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

LiteSpeed Cache places #6 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WP-PostRatings 20K+ · 4.4★ (178) wp.org #1 2

Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP 100K+ · 4.5★ (252) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 4

WPSSO Core – Complete Schema Markup and Meta Tags 4K+ · 4.6★ (306) wp.org #6 2 too low 5

Rate My Post – Star Rating Plugin by FeedbackWP 20K+ · 4.7★ (159) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 1 too high 6

LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #11 5 too low 7

AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 6K+ · 4.8★ (202) heavy footprint wp.org #9 2 too low 8

GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 9

GD Rating System 1K+ · 4.3★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #5 4 too high 10

WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346) wp.org #13 3 too low 11

WP Recipe Maker 50K+ · 5.0★ (356) heavy footprint wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too low 12

WP-Polls 40K+ · 4.2★ (136) wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too low 13

Schema Package – Structured Data & Rich Snippets Tool for SEO 200+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #10 3 too high 14

Recently 300+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #7 7 too high 15 P Post Ratings 600+ · 4.5★ (23) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓1 5 too low 16

Video Blogster Lite 600+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 4 too high 17 P Pixelpost Importer 10+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18

3task Review Box: Star Ratings, Pros & Cons and Review Schema — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 4 too high 19 D DS FAQ Plus 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 W wp-postratings-my 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓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.