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

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 “sds”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20.

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

AI Featured Image shows at wp.org #3 but places #9 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 100+ 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

GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 716 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 BotWriter – AI Writer & SEO Content Generator 1K+ · 4.4★ (16) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Stock Ticker 2K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 Product XML Feed Manager for WooCommerce – Google Shopping, Social Sites, Skroutz & More 1K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 SD AI Agent 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #1 3 too high 5 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #19 14 too low 6 UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183) wp.org #20 14 too low 7 Sell Downloads 100+ · 4.0★ (21) wp.org #9 2 too low 8 The GDPR Framework By Data443 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #22 ↑1 14 too low 9 AI Featured Image 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #3 ↑1 6 too high 10 FileDeck – Document Library, Download Manager & Client Portal 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #6 4 too high 11 WP Engine GeoTarget 400+ · 3.6★ (15) wp.org #15 4 too low 12 Digital Content Delivery (incl. DRM) by Flickrocket for WooCommerce 50+ · 2.6★ (10) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 PurePen AI – AI Content Generator with Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini & More 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 6 too high 14 SD Timer – Live Time Tracker for Frontend & Backend — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 4 too high 15 SD Coupon – Free Affiliate Discount Coupons Promo Code and Deals — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 4 too high 16 OhmTang SD (Simple Download) for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 4 too high 17 SD Smart Text Replacer — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 4 too high 18 AD-SD Referral CouponCore EcoSystem — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 My Trail Camera — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 Seven Digits Dilemmas — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 Veiligvertoon | Safety information management for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 RealStamp Verify — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Sound Money Info Quotes Widget 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓1 24 VidDefer – Deferred Video Embeds — · 0.0★ (0) 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.