wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “segment”
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 “segment”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Klaviyo shows at wp.org #5 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.8★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
CMB2 places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 91 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250)
wp.org #1 2 
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701)
wp.org #2 3 
Email Marketing for WooCommerce by Omnisend 40K+ · 4.9★ (169)
wp.org #3 4 
Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167)
wp.org #4 5 
Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress 200K+ · 4.6★ (1205)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55)
wp.org #6 7 
Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186)
wp.org #10 ↑2 3 too low 8 
Jetpack CRM – Clients, Leads, Invoices, Billing, Email Marketing, & Automation 30K+ · 4.3★ (152)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
OneSignal – Web Push Notifications 60K+ · 4.3★ (360)
wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10 
Mailchimp for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.0★ (726)
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 
Newsletters, Email Marketing, SMS and Popups by Omnisend 100K+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 CMB2 300K+ · 5.0★ (91)
wp.org #16 4 too low 13 
Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation 2K+ · 4.8★ (150)
wp.org #20 ↓1 7 too low 14 
Metorik – Reports & Email Automation for WooCommerce 9K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too high 15 Klaviyo 100K+ · 2.8★ (24) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 10 too high 16 
Noptin – Newsletter, New Post Notifications & Email Automation 10K+ · 4.5★ (120)
wp.org #22 6 too low 17 
PushEngage – Web Push Notifications, WooCommerce Automation & Chat Widget 8K+ · 4.3★ (37)
wp.org #14 3 too high 18 
Visibility Logic for Elementor 20K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #23 ↓1 5 too low 19 
SureContact – Newsletters, Email Marketing, Automation, Revenue Tracking & CRM 10K+ · 4.8★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #18 1 too high 20 
Email Marketing for WordPress and WooCommerce – Retainful 600+ · 5.0★ (38)
wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 
MailerLite – WooCommerce integration 30K+ · 2.8★ (64)
wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 
Email Marketing by EmailOctopus 4K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #17 5 too high 23 
Simple Countdown Timer – Sales, Launch and Event Countdowns 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #15 8 too high 24 
Flodesk for Elementor Pro 800+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 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.