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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “remove block directory”

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 “remove block directory”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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

Next Active Directory Integration shows at wp.org #10 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 16 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 3221 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504) wp.org #1 2 Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445) wp.org #2 3 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #3 4 Block Visibility — Conditional Visibility Control for the Block Editor 40K+ · 4.9★ (108) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 The Icon Block 40K+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #6 ↑1 7 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221) wp.org #19 ↓1 12 too low 8 Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) wp.org #11 3 too low 9 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #17 ↓2 8 too low 10 Lightbox for Gallery & Image Block 20K+ · 5.0★ (88) wp.org #13 3 too low 11 Remove Dashboard Access 30K+ · 4.6★ (78) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 Remove "Powered by WordPress" 20K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 Flexible Table Block 40K+ · 4.9★ (34) wp.org #14 ↑2 1 too low 14 Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) wp.org #7 ↓1 7 too high 15 SVG Block 4K+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #9 6 too high 16 BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #24 ↓4 8 too low 17 Spectra Blocks – AI Website Builder for the Block Editor 60K+ · 4.6★ (53) wp.org #16 ↓2 1 too high 18 Next Active Directory Integration 2K+ · 4.8★ (16) wp.org #10 8 too high 19 Create Block Theme 20K+ · 4.8★ (38) wp.org #22 ↑1 3 too low 20 Block Manager 4K+ · 4.9★ (13) wp.org #15 ↑2 5 too high 21 WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (21) wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 Breadcrumb Block 2K+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too high 23 Timeline Block – tell your story with elegant timelines 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too high 24 VK Blocks 100K+ · 4.8★ (6) wp.org #23 ↑1 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.