wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “relations”

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 “relations”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 of the top 20. 3 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

Dynamic Fields Engine – Custom post types, Custom fields, Meta fields, Taxonomies, Listing builder, Query builder and Relations shows at wp.org #2 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 3K+ 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

WPS Cleaner places #10 on merit, 4.3★ from 99 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Mailmunch Forms for Mailchimp 10K+ · 4.6★ (372) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 3 too low 4

WP Extended Search 20K+ · 4.9★ (72) wp.org #13 8 too low 6

Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 1 too low 7

W3 Relations Carousel for Elementor 90+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #1 6 too high 8

PublishPress Permissions: Access Control, Content Permissions, User Access 10K+ · 4.3★ (66) wp.org #16 ↑1 8 too low 9

RPB Chessboard 1K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #12 3 too low 10

WPS Cleaner 10K+ · 4.3★ (99) wp.org #21 11 too low 11

BuddyPress Integration for WooCommerce 700+ · 4.3★ (72) wp.org #18 7 too low 12

HelpCrunch – Live Chat, Chatbot & Knowledge Base for Customer Service 2K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #8 4 too high 13

Product Slider, Product Grid, Product Masonry 9K+ · 4.3★ (86) wp.org #22 9 too low 14

Dynamic Fields Engine – Custom post types, Custom fields, Meta fields, Taxonomies, Listing builder, Query builder and Relations 3K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 ↑1 12 too high 15

Connect Polylang for Elementor 100K+ · 4.8★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #19 4 too low 16

Button Block – Stylish buttons that get more clicks 5K+ · 5.0★ (7) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #11 5 too high 17

Backup Bolt – Lightweight Backup, Fast WordPress Backup to ZIP 800+ · 4.7★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #20 3 too low 18

The Courier Guy Shipping for WooCommerce 4K+ · 3.1★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #9 9 too high 19

Coding Chicken – JetEngine Importer 300+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #10 9 too high 20

MB Relationships 1K+ · 4.6★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #15 5 too high 21

M-Pesa(Kenya) Checkout for Woocommerce 900+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #24 3 too low 22

Content Relations 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23

Reorder Terms 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #14 9 too high 24

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.