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← Rankings

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

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 “seach”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 8 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

Bukazu Search Widget shows at wp.org #15 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Search in Place places #2 on merit, 4.9★ from 64 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Website Builder by SeedProd — Theme Builder, Landing Page Builder, Coming Soon Page, Maintenance Mode 600K+ · 4.9★ (4699) wp.org #1 2 Search in Place 3K+ · 4.9★ (64) wp.org #9 7 too low 3 Beds24 Online Booking 2K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #3 4 Menukaart – Restaurant Menu & Online Ordering with WooCommerce 20+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #4 5 LocateAndFilter 200+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #10 5 too low 6 Save CF7 Entry 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 Search Tools – Advanced Search Analytics, Highlight, Extend, Disable 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 1 too high 8 E Email verification on signups 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #14 6 too low 9 ImmoToolBox Connect 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 SuperSearch 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 3 too high 11 Auto Smart Thumbnails 50+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #23 12 too low 12 MyD Delivery Widgets 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 Softtemplates For Elementor 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 1 too high 14 Dashi 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 1 too high 15 CBULKiT – Advanced Bulk Coupons For WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 4 too high 16 P Posts by Taxonomy — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 My wpdb 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 2 too low 18 Customer List 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 19 mher list Subpages — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 Bukazu Search Widget 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 5 too high 21 ISBN Book Search 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 Realty Portal – Floor Plan 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Realty Portal – My Favorites 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Realty Portal – Agent Dashboard 30+ · 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.