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

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 “riding”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 3 of the top 18. 3 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

Inkslip – Liability Waiver & Release Forms shows at wp.org #3 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its — 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

Two Factor Authentication places #4 on merit, 4.4★ from 77 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

OS DataHub Maps 200+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Location Pack for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (11) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #2 3

Mastodon Autopost 700+ · 4.2★ (21) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #4 1 too low 4

Two Factor Authentication 20K+ · 4.4★ (77) wp.org #8 ↓1 4 too low 5

WP Yelp Review Slider 1K+ · 4.9★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6

OpenStation – Admin Dashboard Notes, Custom Dashboard, AI Assistant & PWA 1K+ · 5.0★ (23) heavy footprint thin reviews wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7

Pixeline’s Email Protector 900+ · 4.3★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #5 2 too high 8

Amazon Product in a Post Plugin 800+ · 4.2★ (54) closure risk wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9

Amazon Link Localization by BestAzon 100+ · 4.3★ (44) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk stale but ranked wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10

Predictive Search for WooCommerce 700+ · 3.2★ (49) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too high 11

Inkslip – Liability Waiver & Release Forms — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 8 too high 12

Lynbro Danadresse — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 13

AudioDots Player — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 14

Rosterkeeper for Clubs — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 15 A Auto Trash Delete 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 1 too low 16 W WP Sentence 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 2 too low 17

Happy Santa 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 2 too high 18 C Custom Strava Integration 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 1 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.