wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “proxy api”
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 “proxy api”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
Tiles Proxy for OpenStreetMap shows at wp.org #7 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 620 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #3 2 too low 2 
Proxy & VPN Blocker 1K+ · 3.8★ (33)
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
PixelYourSite – Your smart PIXEL (TAG) & API Manager 400K+ · 4.3★ (281)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Proxy Cache Purge 50K+ · 4.4★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 
WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146)
wp.org #15 8 too low 8 
Limit Login Attempts Security – Login Security, 2FA, Firewall, Brute Force Prevention 1M+ · 4.8★ (1488)
wp.org #16 ↑3 8 too low 9 R REST API Log 5K+ · 3.6★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #5 4 too high 10 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195)
wp.org #19 ↓3 9 too low 11 Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator 100K+ · 4.7★ (620)
wp.org #23 12 too low 12 
Instant Images – One-click Image Uploads from Unsplash, Openverse, Pixabay, Pexels, and Giphy 100K+ · 4.8★ (59)
wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too low 13 
JSON API Auth 600+ · 4.7★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑1 7 too high 14 
Geolocation IP Detection 20K+ · 4.7★ (59)
wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too high 16 
CoCart – Headless REST API for WooCommerce 900+ · 4.9★ (21) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 7 too high 17 
IP2Location Country Blocker 30K+ · 4.1★ (128) not PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓1 4 too low 18 
Nginx Helper 200K+ · 4.4★ (31)
wp.org #18 ↑4 19 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #22 3 too low 20 
Squeeze – Browser-Based Image Compression & WebP Converter (No API, No Limits) 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #12 8 too high 21 
Nginx Cache 8K+ · 4.6★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
VPN Guard – Block VPN, Proxy, Bots & Anonymous Visitors 200+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too high 23 Tiles Proxy for OpenStreetMap 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 16 too high 24 
Fense Block Vpn & Proxy 70+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 16 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.