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

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 “restapi”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 4 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

Rest API For Cross Platform Support with Gravity Forms shows at wp.org #9 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 10+ 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

Everest Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form, Quiz, Survey & Custom Form Builder with AI places #3 on merit, 4.9★ from 375 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Digital License Manager 800+ · 4.7★ (30) wp.org #1 2 WowStore – Store Builder & Product Blocks for WooCommerce 4K+ · 4.6★ (113) wp.org #2 3 Everest Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form, Quiz, Survey & Custom Form Builder with AI 90K+ · 4.9★ (375) wp.org #16 ↓1 13 too low 4 Post Porter 20+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too high 5 Minifly – Site Enhancement, White Label and Custom Dashboard Solution 10+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6 ThreatPoint IP Reputation 10+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 SiteSkite – Secure MCP & AI WebOps. Connect ChatGPT, Claude, or Any AI Agent via MCP 200+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #17 ↓1 10 too low 8 ShareThis Share Buttons 10K+ · 3.5★ (26) wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too low 9 Better Sharing 20+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #22 ↓1 13 too low 10 xm Importer 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 ↓1 4 too high 11 Integration for Artbiz 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too high 12 AL Pack 4K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too low 13 CloudAware Security Audit — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 ↓1 6 too high 14 우커머스 포트원 플러그인 (국내 모든 PG를 한 번에) 600+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #23 ↓1 9 too low 15 Nguyano Escrow Manager — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too high 16 {eac}Doojigger Simple AWS Extension for WordPress — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 4 too high 17 GDPR & DSGVO Compliant Maps | GeoUNIT Maps 100+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #24 ↓1 7 too low 18 ThreatPoint Email Validator — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↓1 8 too high 19 Rest API For Cross Platform Support with Gravity Forms 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 ↓1 10 too high 20 Virtual Media Folders 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 ↑1 2 too high 21 Tamara Checkout 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↓2 8 too high 22 Globaliser 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓2 2 too high 23 快兔兔AI采集器(站群版) 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓2 4 too high 24 Acme Demo Setup 10K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.