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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pure html”

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 “pure html”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

HTML Page Publisher shows at wp.org #4 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Options for Twenty Twenty-One places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 64 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Pure Metafields 10K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #1 2 Hierarchical HTML Sitemap 4K+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #2 3 Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ · 5.0★ (88) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Image Hover Effects Ultimate ( Image Gallery, Effects, Lightbox, Comparison & Magnifier ) 10K+ · 4.7★ (250) wp.org #10 6 too low 5 ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 Safelayout Cute Preloader – CSS3 WordPress Preloader 10K+ · 5.0★ (84) wp.org #9 3 too low 7 Export Without Shortcodes: convert to pure HTML the exported content 100+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #3 4 too high 8 PickPlugins Pricing Table 900+ · 5.0★ (20) wp.org #7 1 too high 9 Latest Posts 4K+ · 4.6★ (7) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 SEO Redirection Plugin – 301 Redirect Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (73) wp.org #17 ↑3 7 too low 11 Active Woot Products Tables for WooCommerce. 100% FREE 1K+ · 4.8★ (18) wp.org #11 12 Options for Twenty Twenty-One 6K+ · 4.9★ (64) wp.org #21 ↓2 9 too low 13 I iframe 60K+ · 4.4★ (56) wp.org #19 ↓1 6 too low 14 Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72) wp.org #13 1 too high 15 Simple GDPR Cookie Compliance 6K+ · 4.9★ (14) wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too high 16 HTML Page Publisher 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 12 too high 17 FV Simpler SEO 2K+ · 4.6★ (12) wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too high 18 TableOn – WordPress Posts Table Filterable 200+ · 4.6★ (15) wp.org #18 ↓2 19 Nexter Extension – Security, Performance, Code Snippets & Site Toolkit 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) wp.org #22 ↑2 3 too low 20 Currency Converter Widget ⚡ PRO 300+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #23 3 too low 21 Lightweight Cookie Notice – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent 5K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too high 22 Init Embed Posts – Stylish, Fast, Portable 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 10 too high 23 Init User Engine – Gamified, Fast, Frontend-First 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 Image Slider Slideshow 2K+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓3

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.