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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “press release”

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 “press release”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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

Press Release Distribution shows at wp.org #2 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 600+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Simple Custom Post Order places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 580 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Press This 5K+ · 3.7★ (25) wp.org #1 2 WP-ShowHide 9K+ · 4.2★ (43) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1717) wp.org #9 6 too low 4 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #12 8 too low 5 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (391) wp.org #19 14 too low 6 Simple:Press Forum 300+ · 4.2★ (23) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (580) wp.org #22 15 too low 8 SiteGround Migrator 80K+ · 4.3★ (401) wp.org #20 12 too low 9 Nooz 500+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #6 3 too high 10 Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (59) wp.org #18 8 too low 11 EmbedPress – PDF Embedder, 3D PDF FlipBook, Google Reviews, YouTube Videos, Upload & Embed PDF documents 100K+ · 4.8★ (306) wp.org #24 13 too low 12 GDPRess | Eliminate external requests to increase GDPR compliance 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 RPS Include Content 700+ · 4.9★ (18) wp.org #17 4 too low 14 Press This Extended 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 9 too high 15 Press Release Distribution 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #2 13 too high 16 Press Release 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 12 too high 17 Press Release Template 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 6 too high 18 BanglaPress – bKash, & Mobile Payment with Order Tracking & Invoice & Shipping Label Printing for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #16 2 too high 19 Chainwire Integration 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 9 too high 20 Press Release Writer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 7 too high 21 HR Press Lite 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 22 Socialwire Article Generator 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 7 too high 23 Transfer Press – The Ultimate WordPress Plugin Zip Downloader, Activator 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 24 API Press – External API data, Connect API, Import API 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 10 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.