wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “replacing”
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 “replacing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Search & Replace Everything by WPCode – Find and Replace Media, Text, Links, and More shows at wp.org #10 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.9★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Orphans places #10 on merit, 5.0★ from 164 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.
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #1 2 
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Enable Media Replace 600K+ · 4.4★ (302)
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
301 Redirects – Redirect Manager 300K+ · 4.7★ (578)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
ECS – Ele Custom Skin for Elementor 100K+ · 4.6★ (117)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
ImageMagick Engine 60K+ · 4.4★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #4 5 too high 10 Orphans 50K+ · 5.0★ (164)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 
WebP Express 300K+ · 4.4★ (162)
wp.org #11 12 
FiboSearch – Ajax Search for WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.9★ (1815) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 
Perfect Images: Regenerate Thumbnails, Image Sizes, WebP & AVIF 60K+ · 4.8★ (279)
wp.org #19 ↓1 6 too low 14 
PW WooCommerce Bulk Edit 20K+ · 4.9★ (238) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
Gutenverse – WordPress Blocks, Page Builder & Site Editor 20K+ · 4.9★ (190) heavy footprint
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #18 ↑6 2 too low 17 
Two Factor 100K+ · 4.7★ (209)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Lazy Load for Videos 9K+ · 4.4★ (105) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 
Co-Authors, Multiple Authors and Guest Authors in an Author Box with PublishPress Authors 20K+ · 4.9★ (114) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 3 too high 20 
Debug Log Manager – Conveniently Monitor and Inspect Errors 10K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 U Upload Larger Plugins 6K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too high 22 
WP Migrate Lite – Migration Made Easy 200K+ · 4.2★ (318) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓2 1 too low 23 
Gravity Forms Zero Spam 100K+ · 4.3★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24 Search & Replace Everything by WPCode – Find and Replace Media, Text, Links, and More 20K+ · 3.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #10 14 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.