wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pull quotes”

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 “pull quotes”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

Pull Quotes shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 10+ 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

EWWW Image Optimizer places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 1842 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Simple Pull Quote 1K+ · 4.2★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Better Click To Share – Shareable Quote Boxes for X (Twitter) 6K+ · 4.8★ (48) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Jetpack CRM – Clients, Leads, Invoices, Billing, Email Marketing, & Automation 30K+ · 4.3★ (152) wp.org #7 ↑1 4 too low 4

WP Migrate Lite – Migration Made Easy 200K+ · 4.2★ (318) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 1 too low 5

Master Addons for Elementor – Elementor Addons, Widgets, Mega Menu Builder, Popup Builder, Widget Builder & Template Kits 30K+ · 4.5★ (212) wp.org #9 4 too low 6

SVG Support 1M+ · 4.8★ (356) wp.org #8 ↓2 2 too low 7

Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current wp.org #13 ↑1 6 too low 8

EWWW Image Optimizer 1M+ · 4.8★ (1842) wp.org #17 ↑2 8 too low 10

XV Random Quotes 300+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #2 8 too high 11

Highlight Search Terms 6K+ · 5.0★ (40) wp.org #11 ↑1 12

Export Media URLs 7K+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #10 2 too high 13

Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (807) wp.org #22 ↓5 9 too low 14

Random Content 3K+ · 4.8★ (35) wp.org #16 2 too low 15

Tiered Pricing Table for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (104) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16

DTX – Dynamic Text Extension for Contact Form 7 100K+ · 4.7★ (99) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #19 ↑1 3 too low 17

Meks Flexible Shortcodes 10K+ · 4.2★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too high 18

Disqus Comment System 30K+ · 2.7★ (219) wp.org #20 2 too low 19

Pull Quotes 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 15 too high 20

Web and WooCommerce Addons for WPBakery Builder 1K+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too low 21

Modules Kit – Beaver Builder Modules 80+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #15 6 too high 22

Live Rates for ShipStation 400+ · 5.0★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓3 2 too low 23

Easy Testimonial Slider and Form 700+ · 4.8★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 24

Abs – Additional block styles 400+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #18 6 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.