wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “search map”
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 “search map”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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
GPX Route Map shows at wp.org #11 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
The Events Calendar places #11 on merit, 4.2★ from 2461 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 4 
All in One SEO – AI SEO Plugin to Boost SEO Rankings & Traffic (Schema, Local SEO, Sitemap & SEO Insights) 2M+ · 4.7★ (5231) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #12 6 too low 7 
Flexible Map 7K+ · 4.8★ (66)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too high 8 
WP Search with Algolia 7K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #9 10 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #14 4 too low 11 The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #18 7 too low 12 
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #16 4 too low 13 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #22 8 too low 15 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 
WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #8 8 too high 17 
Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Extensions for Leaflet Map 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 8 too high 19 
Highlight Search Terms 6K+ · 5.0★ (40)
wp.org #19 20 
Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) heavy footprint
wp.org #20 21 
Travelers' Map 1K+ · 5.0★ (46) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
CodePeople Post Map for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.2★ (31) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 9 too high 23 
MapGeo – Interactive Geo Maps 30K+ · 4.4★ (65)
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 GPX Route Map 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #11 13 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.