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← Rankings

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

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 “proof”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 2 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

Nudgify Social Proof shows at wp.org #9 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 500+ 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

WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 1915 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) wp.org #1 2 Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1668) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 Customer Reviews for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (1539) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 ProveSource Social Proof 2K+ · 4.8★ (72) wp.org #6 ↑1 7 Inavii Social Feed – Live Social Proof Gallery 9K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 NotificationX – FOMO, Live Sales Notification, WooCommerce Sales Popup, GDPR, Social Proof, Announcement Banner & Floating Notification Bar 30K+ · 4.8★ (228) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358) wp.org #17 ↓3 7 too low 11 WPCode – Insert Headers and Footers + Custom Code Snippets – WordPress Code Manager 3M+ · 4.9★ (1915) wp.org #19 8 too low 12 Real Testimonials – Testimonial Slider, Collect Customer Reviews and Video Testimonials 40K+ · 4.7★ (226) wp.org #20 ↓3 8 too low 13 Safe SVG 1M+ · 4.9★ (79) wp.org #13 14 FOMO & Social Proof Notifications by TrustPulse – Best WordPress FOMO Plugin 10K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #16 ↑2 2 too low 15 SALERT – Social Proof Notifications & Live Sales Popup 8K+ · 3.9★ (16) wp.org #8 7 too high 16 WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 U Unique Headers 10K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #21 4 too low 18 Sunshine Photo Cart – Client Photo Gallery & Photo Proofing for Photographers 1K+ · 4.7★ (138) wp.org #24 6 too low 19 WiserNotify – Social Proof & FOMO Notifications, WooCommerce Sales Popups, Reviews & Announcement Bar 900+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #15 4 too high 20 Nudgify Social Proof 500+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #9 11 too high 21 SureMail – SMTP and Email Logs Plugin with Amazon SES, Postmark, and Other Providers 200K+ · 4.7★ (25) wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too low 22 Social Proof Popups & Real-Time Notifications – Herd Effects 900+ · 3.9★ (15) wp.org #12 10 too high 23 Surbma | GDPR Proof Cookie Consent & Notice Bar 500+ · 4.6★ (11) wp.org #18 ↑2 5 too high 24 Tax‑Proof Coupons for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↑2 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.