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

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 “samesite”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Switcher shows at wp.org #6 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 30+ 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.

Buried gem

Adaptive Images for WordPress places #5 on merit, 4.7★ from 56 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30) wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too low 2 WPO365 | SAMESITE 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 Lightweight Google Analytics 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 Adaptive Images for WordPress 3K+ · 4.7★ (56) wp.org #16 ↓2 11 too low 6 GDPR-DSGVO compliant Embeds for Google Maps 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #7 ↓2 1 too low 7 Login as User or Customer — User Switching 100+ · 3.0★ (13) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 Evergreen Content Poster – Auto Post and Schedule Your Best Content to Social Media 90+ · 4.1★ (13) wp.org #19 ↓3 11 too low 9 Zen Site Security 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 ↑1 6 too high 10 Segurium – Free Malware Removal & Auto Cleanup for Hacked Websites, Antivirus Scanner, Vulnerability Alerts 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too low 11 SameSite Cookies 700+ · 2.5★ (11) wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too high 12 kjrocker Cookie Consent 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too high 13 User Toolkit 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #21 ↓3 8 too low 14 Switcher 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 8 too high 15 BaseCloud UTM Tracker 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 PerfLocale — · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 ↑2 6 too low 17 Martto Friendly Reactions 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↑2 2 too high 18 Customer Cloud Gallery – Google Drive & Dropbox Image Gallery 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 Volixta SSL & Security Headers – Free SSL Certificates, HTTPS & Mixed Content Fixer 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↓1 6 too high 20 PGO Simple UTM Tracker 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↓2 3 too high 21 Currency Switcher for WooCommerce – Multi Currency, Auto Rates & GeoIP 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 Sogo Consent 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 2 too high 23 GDPR-DSGVO compliant Embeds for YouTube Videos 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 24 UDX Easy Returns & Refunds for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓2

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.