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

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 “scribd”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 19. 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 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

Embed Consent shows at wp.org #3 but places #7 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

PDF Embedder – PDF Viewer & Embed PDF Files for WordPress 300K+ · 4.7★ (529) wp.org #1 2

EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) not PHP-current wp.org #2 3

Embed Privacy 10K+ · 4.9★ (26) wp.org #6 3 too low 4

MyBookTable Bookstore by Stormhill Media 1K+ · 3.8★ (41) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 5

Embed Consent 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #3 4 too high 8

Social Media Shortcodes 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #8 9

SKT Cookie Consent 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 4 too high 10 W Widget Pack 200+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 2 too low 11

Calucon Third-Party Embed Gate 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 2 too high 12

The Grand Athenaeum — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 2 too high 13 S Scribd Doc Embedder 200+ · 3.7★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 14 S Shortcake Bakery 40+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 3 too high 15 O oEmbed for BuddyPress 30+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 16

Rombus Shortcodes — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 17 M MediaEmbedder 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 18 O oEmbed for Comments 40+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 19 W WP Scribd 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #19

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.