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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “redux framework”

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 “redux framework”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Catch Themes Demo Import shows at wp.org #5 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Use Any Font | Custom Font Uploader places #6 on merit, 4.7★ from 1148 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Redux Framework 900K+ · 4.4★ (273) wp.org #1 2 WP Datepicker 6K+ · 4.8★ (37) wp.org #2 ↑4 3 WP Header Images 4K+ · 4.4★ (35) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 WP Mail Logging 300K+ · 4.7★ (375) wp.org #11 7 too low 5 Fuse Social Icons 10K+ · 4.6★ (58) wp.org #9 4 too low 6 Use Any Font | Custom Font Uploader 200K+ · 4.7★ (1148) wp.org #20 14 too low 7 WP SpeedUp 200+ · 4.1★ (9) wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too high 8 QuadMenu – Mega Menu 10K+ · 4.5★ (270) wp.org #19 11 too low 9 Admin Tweaks 800+ · 4.7★ (33) wp.org #13 4 too low 10 One Click Demo Import 1M+ · 4.3★ (79) wp.org #14 4 too low 11 Worth The Read 3K+ · 4.3★ (27) wp.org #17 6 too low 12 Mihdan: Yandex Turbo Feed 1K+ · 4.7★ (31) wp.org #24 12 too low 13 IssueM 600+ · 4.1★ (13) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 Easy Demo Importer – A Modern One-Click Demo Import Solution 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↓1 8 too high 15 BZOTech Theme Core 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 8 too high 16 Restrictions for BuddyPress 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 Lenxel AI LMS – Course Lesson Generator — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 9 too high 18 VillaTheme Core 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 8 too high 19 Tailwatch – Security, Backups, Monitoring & Management 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 DirectoryPress – Business Directory And Classified Ad Listing 600+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #12 8 too high 21 Custom WP Admin Login 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 22 GoDevs Blocks 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 23 C C4D Plugin Manager 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 7 too high 24 Catch Themes Demo Import 5K+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #5 ↓1 19 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.