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

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 “scf”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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

Recast Table Builder for ACF and SCF shows at wp.org #6 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 40+ 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

Music Player for Elementor – Audio Player & Podcast Player places #6 on merit, 4.7★ from 120 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (59) wp.org #1 2 Secure Custom Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #2 3 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 S Smart Custom Fields 50K+ · 4.9★ (20) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Post to Google My Business (Google Business Profile) 10K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #9 4 too low 6 Music Player for Elementor – Audio Player & Podcast Player 10K+ · 4.7★ (120) wp.org #13 7 too low 7 Blocks for ACF Fields — Display Custom Fields in the Block Editor 2K+ · 4.9★ (13) wp.org #7 8 Dynamic Tags for Elementor 600+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too high 9 CSV Importer Plus for ACF 400+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 Recast Table Builder for ACF and SCF 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 4 too high 11 Options for Block Themes 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 Clone / Duplicate Orders for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too high 13 Dynamic Fields for Elementor and SCF/ACF 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too high 14 WP All Export – Export Add-On for ACF 20K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↑1 4 too low 15 DT Bulk Content Studio 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 1 too high 16 A Airy Frontend Forms 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Form Enhancer for Fluent Forms 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 ↑1 5 too low 18 Metaly for ACF and SCF — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Wira Templates – Starter Sites Template Crafted by Real Designer 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 Fields ACF & SCF for Elementor and Divi 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 4 too high 21 Spotiembed 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Captain Widgets Kit for Elementor 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 FrontElf Fields Bridge for Contact Form 7 — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24 TopPosts for Google Analytics 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 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.