wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “random dates”
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 “random dates”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 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
Date Filters, Date Picker & Unique IDs for Gravity Forms – Hero Add-On shows at wp.org #6 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 70+ 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
Quiz Maker by AYS places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 601 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #1 2 
Random Content 3K+ · 4.8★ (35)
wp.org #2 3 
Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads 300K+ · 4.9★ (2433)
wp.org #13 10 too low 4 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #8 4 too low 5 
Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175)
wp.org #9 ↓3 4 too low 6 
FakerPress 10K+ · 4.9★ (205)
wp.org #12 ↓2 6 too low 7 
Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 60K+ · 4.8★ (94)
wp.org #10 ↓1 3 too low 8 
Post Date Randomizer 8K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too low 10 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #20 ↓8 10 too low 11 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #18 ↑1 7 too low 12 Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601)
wp.org #24 12 too low 13 
YOP Poll 10K+ · 4.4★ (452)
wp.org #21 ↓13 8 too low 14 
WP-Polls 40K+ · 4.2★ (136)
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↑5 4 too high 16 
Generate Random Orders For WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #3 13 too high 17 
Bulk Datetime Change 6K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #7 10 too high 18 
Democracy Poll 6K+ · 4.6★ (86)
wp.org #23 ↓2 5 too low 19 
Random Post Plugin – Redirect URL to Post 3K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 
Advanced Query Loop 6K+ · 4.6★ (30)
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too high 21 
Random Image Block for Block Editor 100+ · 3.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #5 16 too high 22 
Random Post Date 60+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓3 8 too high 23 Date Filters, Date Picker & Unique IDs for Gravity Forms – Hero Add-On 70+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑1 17 too high 24 
Essential Content Types 20K+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 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.