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

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 “reload”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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 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

Easy Auto Reload – Auto Refresh shows at wp.org #1 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 1K+ 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

Direct Checkout for WooCommerce places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 408 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

CookieYes – Cookie Banner for Cookie Consent (Easy to setup GDPR/CCPA Compliant Cookie Notice) 1M+ · 4.8★ (3236) wp.org #5 ↑2 4 too low 2

Force Refresh 4K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #2 ↑1 3

Product Filter for WooCommerce by WBW 50K+ · 4.8★ (325) wp.org #9 ↑3 6 too low 4

Ajax add to cart for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (78) wp.org #8 ↓3 4 too low 5

Direct Checkout for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (408) wp.org #14 ↑1 9 too low 6

BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 ↑4 7

WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346) wp.org #12 ↑2 5 too low 8

We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45) wp.org #10 ↑9 2 too low 9

Advanced AJAX Product Filters 50K+ · 4.7★ (387) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 ↓5 2 too low 10

WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195) wp.org #18 ↑5 8 too low 11

Live Auto Refresh (Hot Reload / Live Reload for WordPress Developers) 100+ · 4.3★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #3 ↓1 8 too high 12

Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154) wp.org #16 ↓7 4 too low 13

Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587) wp.org #21 8 too low 14

Comments – wpDiscuz 60K+ · 4.7★ (581) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #15 ↓4 1 too low 15

Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #20 ↑2 4 too low 17

Ajaxify Comments – Ajax and Lazy Loading Comments 3K+ · 4.8★ (91) wp.org #17 18 C Clear Cache for Me 40K+ · 4.8★ (29) wp.org #13 5 too high 19

Modern Cart – WooCommerce Side Cart & Popup Cart 60K+ · 4.9★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 ↑1 12 too high 20

Easy Auto Reload – Auto Refresh 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #1 19 too high 21

Page Visits Counter – Lite 5K+ · 4.0★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #4 17 too high 22

Plugin Notes Plus 9K+ · 5.0★ (62) wp.org #24 ↓3 2 too low 23

Dark Mode for WP Dashboard 3K+ · 4.8★ (34) wp.org #19 ↓3 4 too high 24

Ajax Cart for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.4★ (39) 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.