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

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 “retargeting”, 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

Pinterest for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #6 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 200K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.3★ average from 68 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

URL Shortify – Simple and Easy URL Shortener places #8 on merit, 4.7★ from 169 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress 200K+ · 4.6★ (1205) wp.org #1 ↑4 2 Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Pixel Cat – Conversion Pixel Manager 40K+ · 4.0★ (41) wp.org #3 4 Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399) wp.org #12 ↑5 8 too low 5 Brevo – Email, SMS, Web Push, Chat, and more. 100K+ · 4.1★ (284) wp.org #10 ↑4 5 too low 6 Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Meta pixel for WordPress 400K+ · 2.7★ (164) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 URL Shortify – Simple and Easy URL Shortener 10K+ · 4.7★ (169) wp.org #17 ↑2 9 too low 9 releva.nz | Dynamisches Retargeting 70+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #4 ↓2 5 too high 10 Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.8★ (80) wp.org #19 ↓1 9 too low 11 WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, WordPress Automation, AI Services 5K+ · 4.7★ (124) wp.org #14 ↓4 3 too low 12 AI ChatBot for WooCommerce – WoowBot 1K+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too high 13 Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – RexFeed – Sell on 200+ Shopping Channels 10K+ · 4.8★ (256) wp.org #18 ↑4 5 too low 14 Icegram Engage – Popups, Welcome Bars, Optins, Slide-Ins & Lead Generation for WordPress 10K+ · 4.7★ (370) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 WPify Woo – Withdrawal, CRN/VAT, QR payments, Heureka and more for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (49) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 Pixel Tag Manager for WooCommerce – Google Analytics 4, Google Ads, and More Pixels 2K+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Klaviyo 100K+ · 2.8★ (24) wp.org #9 ↑4 8 too high 18 Tracking Script Manager 2K+ · 4.1★ (7) wp.org #8 10 too high 19 Pinterest for WooCommerce 200K+ · 2.3★ (68) wp.org #6 13 too high 20 Metrilo – WooCommerce Growth Platform 200+ · 3.9★ (10) wp.org #24 4 too low 21 AdRoll for WooCommerce Stores 500+ · 2.5★ (10) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 ADCELL Tracking 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Pixelavo – Server Side Tracking & Pixel + AI Ads Tools 2K+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #21 ↑2 2 too high 24 Add Twitter Pixel for Twitter ads 100+ · 2.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↑2 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.