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← Rankings

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

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 “shotcode”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 2 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Load More Posts shows at wp.org #4 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Database for Contact Form 7, WPforms, Elementor forms places #2 on merit, 4.8★ from 124 reviews, but shows at wp.org #6. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 EZ SQL Reports Shortcode Widget and DB Backup 500+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 Database for Contact Form 7, WPforms, Elementor forms 60K+ · 4.8★ (124) wp.org #6 ↑1 4 too low 3 Code Snippet DM 500+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too high 4 Browser Screenshots 3K+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 CM Business Directory – Optimise and showcase local business 30+ · 3.9★ (11) wp.org #3 ↑1 2 too high 6 CoolClock 1K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too low 7 Snippet Shortcodes 3K+ · 4.7★ (25) wp.org #13 ↑1 6 too low 8 B Blog-in-Blog 800+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #16 ↑1 8 too low 9 Statify Widget 4K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too high 10 Master Accordion ( Former WP Awesome FAQ Plugin ) 700+ · 2.9★ (29) wp.org #7 ↑1 3 too high 11 WP Font Awesome 10K+ · 4.9★ (9) wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too low 12 morkva Product Review Reminder for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 ↑1 13 Load More Posts 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 ↑1 9 too high 14 Contact form builder for Gutenberg – Formello 80+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #20 ↑1 6 too low 15 External Store for Shopify 2K+ · 3.4★ (5) wp.org #11 ↑1 4 too high 16 Pricing Table – Block – Show Product or Service Pricing in Table Format 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↑1 6 too high 17 WP PDF Generator 900+ · 3.1★ (14) wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too low 18 Geo2 Maps Add-on for NextGEN Gallery 70+ · 3.3★ (12) wp.org #19 ↑1 1 too low 19 EZ Anti-Spam Comments with reCAPTCHA 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too high 20 Accordion Slider Gallery 1K+ · 3.8★ (4) wp.org #22 ↑1 2 too low 21 Hello Event 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↑1 2 too low 22 S Simple Money Button 10+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #14 ↑1 8 too high 23 Mon Laboratoire 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too high 24 Boz Prod Woocommerce HiPay Wallet Pro 10+ · 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.