wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “query loop”

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 “query loop”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20.

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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Taxonomy Query Filter shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Contextual Related Posts places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 201 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 signals wp.org

Advanced Query Loop 6K+ · 4.6★ (30) wp.org #1 2

Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) wp.org #4 ↑4 2 too low 3

Advanced Queries 10K+ · 4.9★ (40) wp.org #6 ↓2 3 too low 4

Ajax Load More – Infinite Scroll, Load More, & Lazy Load 30K+ · 4.8★ (287) wp.org #11 7 too low 5

Tangible: Loops & Logic 2K+ · 4.9★ (39) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6

GenerateBlocks 200K+ · 4.9★ (122) wp.org #10 ↑6 4 too low 7

Query Loop Post Selector 600+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #3 ↓1 4 too high 8

Meta Field Block – Display Custom Fields for ACF, Meta Box and More 10K+ · 5.0★ (57) wp.org #12 ↑8 4 too low 9

Query Loop Load More 900+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #2 ↑1 7 too high 10

ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117) wp.org #16 5 too low 12

W4 Post List 3K+ · 4.7★ (94) wp.org #15 ↓5 3 too low 13

Conditionally display featured image on singular posts and pages 30K+ · 4.8★ (38) wp.org #13 ↑1 14

Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page Builder for Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns 100K+ · 4.9★ (216) wp.org #22 8 too low 15

GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor 80K+ · 4.5★ (48) wp.org #17 ↓4 2 too low 16

Hide Posts 20K+ · 4.7★ (22) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑1 2 too high 17

DesignSetGo 8K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #5 12 too high 18

WP Remove Query Strings From Static Resources 3K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓1 10 too high 19

Embed YouTube Block – Fast Loading Videos, Shorts & Playlists 6K+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓2 2 too low 20

SVG Block 4K+ · 5.0★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓2 21

Solid Post Likes 500+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #18 3 too high 22

Max Addons for Bricks Builder 1K+ · 4.9★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #24 2 too low 23

Taxonomy Query Filter 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #9 14 too high 24 Q Query Loop Exclude Posts 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 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.