wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “share count”
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 “share count”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
ShareThis Share Buttons shows at wp.org #9 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.5★ average from 26 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Social Media Share Buttons & Social Sharing Icons places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 5333 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
AddToAny Share Buttons 300K+ · 4.7★ (1114) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Simple Share Buttons Adder 40K+ · 4.3★ (627)
wp.org #2 3 
Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons 10K+ · 4.9★ (1911) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Cresta Social Share Counter 2K+ · 4.8★ (55)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Social Media Share Buttons & Social Sharing Icons 100K+ · 4.8★ (5333)
wp.org #11 ↓5 6 too low 6 
Simple Social Media Share Buttons – Social Sharing for Everyone 20K+ · 4.8★ (194) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↓1 7 
WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144)
wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too low 8 
Genesis Simple Share 10K+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #5 ↑3 3 too high 9 
Social Sharing Plugin – Sassy Social Share 100K+ · 4.8★ (523)
wp.org #15 ↓3 6 too low 10 
Social Share Buttons 1K+ · 4.8★ (28)
wp.org #7 3 too high 11 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #12 ↑9 1 too low 12 
OG — Better Share on Social Media 20K+ · 4.8★ (216)
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 too low 13 
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 14 
WP Socializer – Simple & Easy Social Media Share Icons 10K+ · 4.5★ (128)
wp.org #17 ↓2 3 too low 15 
Social Share Button 1K+ · 4.1★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↑1 7 too high 16 
Wp Social Login and Register Social Counter 70K+ · 4.6★ (67)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
Share Buttons & AI-powered Summaries 1K+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too high 18 
Highlight and Share – Unobtrusive and Lightweight Content Sharing 700+ · 4.9★ (29)
wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too low 19 
Better Click To Share – Shareable Quote Boxes for X (Twitter) 6K+ · 4.8★ (48)
wp.org #24 ↓2 5 too low 20 ShareThis Share Buttons 10K+ · 3.5★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↑1 11 too high 21 
Social Snap — Social Share Buttons & Click to Tweet 10K+ · 4.2★ (58) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓3 22 
Social Sharing Plugin – Kiwi 4K+ · 4.1★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too high 23 
Superb Social Media Share Buttons and Follow Buttons 6K+ · 4.4★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 
Social Share Block – Help Visitors Spread Your Content Everywhere 2K+ · 4.3★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 8 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.