wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “reposting”
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 “reposting”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 17. 2 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Creative Commons Post Republisher shows at wp.org #5 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 30+ 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
Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Buffer places #3 on merit, 4.5★ from 125 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster 20K+ · 3.3★ (617) low rating, top placement
wp.org #1 2 
Social Post Flow – Social Media Automation, Scheduling, Scheduler, Posting & Auto Post 200+ · 4.2★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Buffer 7K+ · 4.5★ (125)
wp.org #11 8 too low 4 
Social Publisher – Auto Post to LinkedIn 10+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Discussion Board – WordPress Forum Plugin 1K+ · 4.6★ (43)
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 F Forms: 3rd-Party Integration 5K+ · 4.9★ (31) closure risk
wp.org #16 10 too low 7 
Re-post Activity for BuddyPress 80+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
Automated Remote Reposting 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
PublisherKits SocialPromoter 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 3 too high 10 C Creative Commons Post Republisher 30+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #5 5 too high 11 
kobak social: share posts to Mastodon and Bluesky — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 
Kotaqx Poster — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #8 4 too high 13 
Tornevall Networks DNSBL Implementation 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Itmaroon Social Post Sync — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 1 too high 15 
Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Postiz — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 R Reposter Reloaded 40+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 B BJH Website Assistant 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 2 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.