wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “save to database”

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 “save to database”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 2 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

Database for Contact Form 7 shows at wp.org #8 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 14 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring places #12 on merit, 4.7★ from 321 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962) wp.org #1 2

Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair 10K+ · 5.0★ (150) wp.org #2 3

WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #3 4

Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions 60K+ · 4.7★ (181) wp.org #4 5

Database Addon for Contact Form 7 – CFDB7 600K+ · 5.0★ (1875) wp.org #6 1 too low 6

Database Addon For WPForms ( wpforms entries ) – WPFormsDB 20K+ · 5.0★ (131) wp.org #5 1 too high 7

UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708) wp.org #10 3 too low 8

WP Database Backup – Unlimited Database & Files Backup by Backup for WP 20K+ · 4.5★ (102) wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9

GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 ↑2 2 too high 10

Form Vibes – Save Contact Form 7 & Elementor Form Entries to Database 10K+ · 4.9★ (132) wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too low 11

Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131) wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too low 12

404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring 100K+ · 4.7★ (321) wp.org #20 ↑1 8 too low 13

Database for Contact Form 7, WPforms, Elementor forms 60K+ · 4.8★ (124) wp.org #17 ↑2 4 too low 14

Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too low 15

Ultra Addons for Contact Form 7 60K+ · 4.8★ (107) wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16

PNG to JPG 10K+ · 4.7★ (40) wp.org #16 17

Database Backup for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (66) wp.org #18 1 too low 18

Database for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 4.2★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓1 10 too high 19

BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current wp.org #22 ↑2 3 too low 20

CF7 Apps – Addons for Contact Form 7 (Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, etc.) 300K+ · 3.8★ (135) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21

Save & Go 200+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #11 10 too high 22

GSheetConnector – WPForms Google Sheets Connector, Save WPForms Lite & PRO Entries to Database & Sheets 7K+ · 4.6★ (18) thin reviews wp.org #23 1 too low 23

WPSyncSheets For Contact Form 7 – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save to Database 600+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑1 4 too high 24

Contact Form to DB by BestWebSoft – Messages Database Plugin For WordPress 1K+ · 4.2★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #24

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.