wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “searchable dropdown”
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 “searchable dropdown”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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
Dropdown Search Option for Contact Form 7 shows at wp.org #3 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 300+ 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
Product Table & List Builder for WooCommerce places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 254 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #1 2 
Formidable Forms – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder 300K+ · 4.8★ (1388)
wp.org #4 2 too low 3 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72)
wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4 
Data Tables Generator by Supsystic – Excel-like, WooCommerce & Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.7★ (497)
wp.org #12 ↑1 8 too low 5 
Extra Product Options Builder for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (94)
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463)
wp.org #17 11 too low 7 
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #11 ↑1 4 too low 8 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122)
wp.org #13 ↑1 5 too low 9 
Product Table for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.8★ (295)
wp.org #19 ↓1 10 too low 10 Product Table & List Builder for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.9★ (254)
wp.org #23 ↓2 13 too low 11 
YMC Filter 4K+ · 4.8★ (34)
wp.org #14 ↓3 3 too low 12 
Books Gallery – Book Showcase, Library & Affiliate Plugin 2K+ · 4.8★ (92)
wp.org #24 ↓2 12 too low 13 
Country Dropdown For Contact Form 7 800+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 11 too high 14 
Business Essentials for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 3.3★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #7 7 too high 15 
Posts Table with Search & Sort 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑6 3 too low 16 
Variation Dropdown to Radio Buttons for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓1 10 too high 17 
Custom 404 Pro 7K+ · 4.2★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Dropdown Search Option for Contact Form 7 300+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 15 too high 19 
Ele Conditions for Elementor 2K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #9 10 too high 20 
Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 2 too low 21 
Custom Fields Account Registration For Woocommerce 800+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #10 11 too high 22 
Build Private Store For WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23 
Custom Icons for Elementor and WPBakery 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #15 8 too high 24 
Searchable Parent Dropdowns 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓3 4 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.