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

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 “rs.”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 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

Website Open/Closed Toggle shows at wp.org #12 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

R

Buried gem

Really Simple CSV Importer places #3 on merit, 4.9★ from 107 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 RS WP Book Showcase – A Complete Book Catalogue & Library System 1K+ · 3.9★ (25) wp.org #1 2 Image Alt Text 10K+ · 5.0★ (56) wp.org #8 6 too low 3 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107) wp.org #10 7 too low 4 Rs Christmas Trees – Holiday Decorations, Christmas Garlands & Falling Snow Effect 100+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 RS Author Info Box 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 2 too high 6 Rs Christmas Santa – Snowfall, Christmas Lights, Holiday Music, Flying Sleigh & Countdown 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Shortcodes for Elementor 5K+ · 3.9★ (7) wp.org #16 9 too low 8 Ultimate Coming Soon Page, Maintenance Mode & Under Construction – Gutenberg Block Builder & Landing Page 9K+ · 4.5★ (6) wp.org #15 7 too low 9 RS Template Builder For Elementor – Complete Control Over Headers, Footers & More 2K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 Shiprocket 10K+ · 2.7★ (20) wp.org #13 3 too low 11 RS Remote Site Manager 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 5 too high 12 SL Currency Symbol Changer 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 5 too high 13 RSWPTHEMES ONE CLICK DEMO CONTENT 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 RS Logo Showcase 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 5 too high 15 RS ARC Manager – Advance Review Copy Management System 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 1 too high 16 かんたんお引越し for お名前.com 400+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 RS Elements Elementor Addon 400+ · 3.5★ (4) wp.org #20 3 too low 18 LKR Currency Symbol Changer 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 1 too low 19 Website Open/Closed Toggle 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 7 too high 20 VIESAC – Free VAT Validation for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 WP RupeeFont 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Author Website Templates – Create Writer, Author & Publisher Websites Easily 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Ultimate Tag Cloud Elementor Addon 400+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 RS Diwali Lantern 10+ · 1.0★ (2) wp.org #22 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.