wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “recent commented”

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 “recent commented”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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

Last Commented Posts Block shows at wp.org #5 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its — 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

PowerPress Podcasting plugin by Blubrry places #8 on merit, 4.6★ from 231 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Smart Post – Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider Gutenberg Blocks for Blog & News 20K+ · 4.7★ (210) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

PPWP – Password Protect Pages 30K+ · 4.7★ (271) wp.org #7 4 too low 4

SVG Support 1M+ · 4.8★ (356) wp.org #12 8 too low 5

Download Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (1006) wp.org #17 12 too low 6

AMP WP – Google AMP For WordPress 600+ · 4.5★ (55) wp.org #10 4 too low 7

WP-Stats 2K+ · 2.6★ (7) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 5 too high 8

PowerPress Podcasting plugin by Blubrry 20K+ · 4.6★ (231) wp.org #24 16 too low 9 P PiwigoPress 200+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #4 5 too high 10

PE Recent Posts 2K+ · 4.9★ (11) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 8 too low 11

affiliate-toolkit – Multi-Network Affiliate & Amazon Product Display 2K+ · 4.5★ (22) thin reviews wp.org #23 12 too low 12

Get Custom Field Values 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 14

Magical Posts Display – Elementor Advanced Posts widgets 3K+ · 4.4★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #20 6 too low 15

Notifal – AI Popup Builder & CRO Engine: Sales Notifications, Social Proof & Exit Intent Popups 50+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #8 7 too high 16

Last Commented Posts Block — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 11 too high 17

Gateway for Wise on WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #19 2 too low 18

Checkout with Cash App on WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.4★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #22 4 too low 19

StoreBolt – Advanced Search for WooCommerce 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 10 too high 20

Kreiswolke Maintenance Agent Toolkit 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 9 too high 21

Frumbik Affiliate Hub – Affiliate Links, Amazon Product Displays, Click Tracking & Geo-Targeting 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 7 too high 22

Darwin Cookie Consent 70+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #15 7 too high 23

Smart Post Block – Post Grid Gutenberg Blocks 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #16 7 too high 24

CodeAtoZ – Cloud Messaging for WooCommerce 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #21 3 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.