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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “return path”

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 “return path”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

BuddyPilot Withdrawal – Easy Returns for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #4 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution places #6 on merit, 4.8★ from 441 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #3 ↑2 2 too low 2 Breadcrumb NavXT 800K+ · 4.6★ (132) wp.org #2 3 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 GoSMTP – SMTP for WordPress 500K+ · 4.3★ (10) wp.org #1 3 too high 5 WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) wp.org #10 ↑8 5 too low 6 Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (441) wp.org #14 ↓5 8 too low 7 Safe SVG 1M+ · 4.9★ (79) wp.org #7 ↑1 8 Leaflet Map 30K+ · 4.9★ (58) wp.org #13 ↑7 5 too low 9 GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155) wp.org #12 ↑2 3 too low 10 WP SVG Images 30K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #8 ↑4 2 too high 11 DTX – Dynamic Text Extension for Contact Form 7 100K+ · 4.7★ (99) wp.org #16 5 too low 12 WP Offload SES Lite 10K+ · 4.3★ (36) wp.org #11 ↑6 1 too high 13 Enable Media Replace 600K+ · 4.4★ (302) wp.org #17 ↓10 4 too low 14 WP SAML Auth 7K+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #5 ↓1 9 too high 15 Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215) wp.org #23 8 too low 16 Variation Swatches for WooCommerce – Color, Image & Size Swatches 200K+ · 4.6★ (51) wp.org #15 ↓5 1 too high 17 BuddyPilot Withdrawal – Easy Returns for WooCommerce 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #4 ↓1 13 too high 18 BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 WP Debugging 10K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #18 ↑6 1 too high 20 Admin Slug Column 5K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #19 1 too high 21 Host Header Injection Fix 400+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #9 ↑6 12 too high 22 B Basic URL ShortCodes 4K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Init Reading Position – Remember, Return, Continue 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 Pantheon Advanced Page Cache 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓1

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.