wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “quick maps”
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 “quick maps”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Quick Maps – Google Maps Without API Key shows at wp.org #3 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 70+ 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
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI places #4 on merit, 4.8★ from 27820 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055)
wp.org #1 2 
Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54)
wp.org #2 3 
API KEY for Google Maps 30K+ · 4.9★ (55)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27820)
wp.org #10 6 too low 5 
Quick Event Manager 1K+ · 4.9★ (67)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172)
wp.org #9 3 too low 7 
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
MapSVG – Vector maps, Image maps, Google Maps 1K+ · 4.5★ (31)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
WP GPX Maps 4K+ · 4.1★ (59)
wp.org #7 3 too high 11 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251)
wp.org #13 14 
Firelight Lightbox 200K+ · 4.8★ (361)
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #19 4 too low 16 
GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55)
wp.org #17 1 too high 19 Quick Maps – Google Maps Without API Key 70+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #3 16 too high 20 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #21 1 too low 21 
Product Labels, Quick View, Buy Now, Pre-Orders, Frequently Bought Together & More for WooCommerce – Merchant 9K+ · 4.2★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 
Quick View For Woocommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #14 8 too high 23 
VenoMaps – OpenStreetMap & Privacy-Friendly Geo Maps 400+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #18 5 too high 24 
Meks Easy Maps 800+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #23 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.