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

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 “retrieve”, 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

SteadFast API shows at wp.org #4 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 8K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.3★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 184 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7520) wp.org #1 2 Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27820) wp.org #2 3 WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #3 4 Docket Cache – Object Cache Accelerator 20K+ · 4.9★ (50) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 DTX – Dynamic Text Extension for Contact Form 7 100K+ · 4.7★ (99) wp.org #6 7 WP Popular Posts 100K+ · 4.5★ (249) wp.org #10 3 too low 8 Reviews and Rating – Google Reviews 20K+ · 4.9★ (184) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Address Book for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45) wp.org #11 1 too low 11 SQLite Object Cache 10K+ · 5.0★ (51) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 K KIA Subtitle 7K+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #9 3 too high 13 WP Editor 20K+ · 4.5★ (95) wp.org #20 7 too low 14 Iks Menu – WordPress Category Accordion Menu & FAQs 10K+ · 5.0★ (27) wp.org #19 5 too low 15 A Attachments 8K+ · 4.8★ (53) wp.org #24 9 too low 16 Author Avatars List/Block 4K+ · 4.8★ (32) wp.org #22 6 too low 17 SteadFast API 8K+ · 3.3★ (3) wp.org #4 13 too high 18 Feeds for TikTok (TikTok feed, video, and gallery plugin) 70K+ · 4.3★ (11) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 Auto Alt Text 4K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #23 4 too low 20 G GoodBarber 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 SocialFeeds 40K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 9 too high 22 HAL 600+ · 3.5★ (4) wp.org #18 4 too high 23 eRecht24 Legal Texts 50K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 8 too high 24 AI Agent by SiteGround 1M+ · 1.7★ (98) wp.org #16 8 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.