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

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 “rtl”, 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

RTL Localization & Fonts shows at wp.org #5 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 701 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 Polylang 900K+ · 4.7★ (3004) wp.org #4 ↑2 2 too low 3 PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) wp.org #6 ↓2 3 too low 4 mPDF add-on for RTL and Unicode Support 4K+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #2 ↓1 2 too high 5 FileBird – WordPress Media Library Folders & File Manager 200K+ · 4.7★ (1125) wp.org #10 ↑8 5 too low 6 پارسی دیت – Parsi Date 100K+ · 4.6★ (130) wp.org #8 2 too low 7 WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices, Packing Slips, Delivery Notes & Shipping Labels 50K+ · 4.9★ (285) wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too low 8 File Manager Pro – Filester 100K+ · 4.9★ (155) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 300K+ · 4.8★ (926) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701) wp.org #21 11 too low 11 Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ · 4.7★ (189) wp.org #14 ↓5 3 too low 12 The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380) wp.org #17 5 too low 13 Agile Store Locator 10K+ · 4.9★ (59) wp.org #16 ↓5 3 too low 14 WPC Smart Quick View for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #11 ↑13 3 too high 15 WP Responsive Menu 30K+ · 4.3★ (100) wp.org #23 ↓2 8 too low 16 Simple Author Box 90K+ · 4.3★ (115) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 We’re Open! 5K+ · 5.0★ (45) wp.org #22 5 too low 18 Better RTL Support 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #3 15 too high 19 FastDup – Fastest WordPress Migration & Duplicator 5K+ · 4.6★ (27) wp.org #20 ↓3 1 too low 20 Quick 301 Redirects 7K+ · 4.6★ (12) wp.org #18 ↓2 2 too high 21 Smart RTL Post 60+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 ↓3 14 too high 22 RTL Localization & Fonts 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 ↓2 17 too high 23 Quick and Easy Testimonials 3K+ · 4.3★ (4) wp.org #24 ↓4 1 too low 24 WP ESIGNATURE RTL (Right to Left) 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓6 5 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.