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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “simple column”

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 “simple column”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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 it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

S

Ranked above its merit

Simple Menu Order Column shows at wp.org #6 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 200+ 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

Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 Admin Columns 100K+ · 4.9★ (1652) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #3 4 Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #4 ↑1 5 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625) wp.org #12 7 too low 6 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107) wp.org #8 2 too low 7 Seriously Simple Podcasting 20K+ · 4.7★ (330) wp.org #7 ↓1 8 Simple Image Sizes 60K+ · 4.6★ (91) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Multiple Columns for Gravity Forms 10K+ · 4.5★ (30) wp.org #5 ↓1 4 too high 10 Simple Sitemap – Responsive HTML Sitemap for WordPress 60K+ · 3.9★ (72) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758) wp.org #15 ↑4 4 too low 12 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #21 ↑1 9 too low 13 Simple Divi Shortcode 10K+ · 5.0★ (23) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 Simple Floating Menu 10K+ · 5.0★ (38) wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too low 15 Simple Job Board 10K+ · 4.7★ (133) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #23 ↑1 7 too low 17 Genesis Simple Sidebars 10K+ · 4.4★ (27) wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too low 18 Simple Login Log 5K+ · 4.5★ (27) wp.org #18 19 Simple Download Counter 2K+ · 4.9★ (19) wp.org #20 ↑1 1 too low 20 Simple Page Redirect 10K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #14 6 too high 21 Simple Restrict 1K+ · 4.9★ (15) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 WP Simple HTML Sitemap 3K+ · 4.9★ (10) wp.org #22 ↑1 23 S Simple Menu Order Column 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 ↑1 17 too high 24 Column Separator for Beaver Builder 400+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #17 7 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.