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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “programming languages”

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 “programming languages”, 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

Add to Cart Text Changer and Customize Button, Add Custom Icon shows at wp.org #9 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.4★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

PDF Builder for WooCommerce. Create invoices,packing slips and more places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 145 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962) wp.org #1 2 Code Block Pro – Beautiful Syntax Highlighting 10K+ · 4.8★ (50) wp.org #2 3 Enlighter – Customizable Syntax Highlighter 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 WPO365 | SEAMLESS WORDPRESS + MICROSOFT INTEGRATION (WPO365 | LOGIN) 10K+ · 4.9★ (154) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates 8K+ · 4.9★ (405) wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 Syntax-highlighting Code Block (with Server-side Rendering) 1K+ · 5.0★ (26) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 DOOFINDER Search and Discovery for WP & WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.9★ (127) wp.org #11 ↑2 3 too low 9 Iptanus File Upload 10K+ · 4.4★ (117) wp.org #12 ↑3 3 too low 10 PDF Builder for WooCommerce. Create invoices,packing slips and more 2K+ · 4.7★ (145) wp.org #16 6 too low 11 Exclusive Addons for Elementor 50K+ · 4.7★ (47) wp.org #13 ↓2 2 too low 12 WP-Yomigana 2K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #3 9 too high 13 Donation Platform for WooCommerce: Fundraising & Donation Management 7K+ · 4.9★ (99) wp.org #20 7 too low 14 WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, WordPress Automation, AI Services 5K+ · 4.7★ (124) wp.org #15 ↓3 1 too low 15 Simple Login Captcha 10K+ · 3.9★ (17) wp.org #10 5 too high 16 Form data to kintone 1K+ · 4.9★ (15) wp.org #14 2 too high 17 Affiliate Super Assistent 1K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 Widget Visibility Time Scheduler 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 Add to Cart Text Changer and Customize Button, Add Custom Icon 1K+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #9 ↓1 10 too high 20 WP All Export – Order Export for WooCommerce 3K+ · 3.9★ (8) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 Walls.io: Social Media Feed 1K+ · 3.8★ (6) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Creative Addons for Elementor 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #19 3 too high 23 CleverReach® WP 4K+ · 3.0★ (8) wp.org #18 5 too high 24 Instant Programming Compatibility Scanner for PHP 8 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 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.