wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “simple fields”
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 fields”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 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
Smart Custom Fields shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 50K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 21 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #1 2 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440)
wp.org #2 3 
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262)
wp.org #3 4 
Simple Membership 40K+ · 4.6★ (475)
wp.org #4 5 
Pods – Custom Content Types and Fields 100K+ · 4.8★ (418)
wp.org #5 6 
Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager 80K+ · 4.7★ (296)
wp.org #6 7 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #7 8 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #8 9 
Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
Advanced Product Fields (Product Addons) for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.8★ (284)
wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11 
Simple Share Buttons Adder 40K+ · 4.3★ (627)
wp.org #12 ↑2 1 too low 12 
Simple Author Box 90K+ · 4.3★ (115)
wp.org #11 ↑1 1 too high 13 R Really Simple CSV Importer 40K+ · 4.9★ (107)
wp.org #15 ↑2 2 too low 14 
Seriously Simple Podcasting 20K+ · 4.7★ (330)
wp.org #19 ↓8 5 too low 15 
Simple Download Monitor 20K+ · 4.7★ (158)
wp.org #16 ↓3 1 too low 16 
Simple Local Avatars 100K+ · 4.6★ (89)
wp.org #13 ↑2 3 too high 17 
WC Fields Factory 7K+ · 4.3★ (168)
wp.org #17 ↑2 18 
Simple Shopping Cart 10K+ · 4.6★ (215)
wp.org #23 ↑1 5 too low 19 
Simple Job Board 10K+ · 4.7★ (133)
wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too low 20 
Flexible Product Fields (WooCommerce Product Addons) – WooCommerce Product Page Editor 10K+ · 4.5★ (106)
wp.org #20 ↑1 21 S Smart Custom Fields 50K+ · 4.9★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑2 7 too high 22 
Simple Image Sizes 60K+ · 4.6★ (91)
wp.org #22 ↑1 23 
Conditional Fields for Elementor Form – Apply Conditional Logic 10K+ · 4.7★ (32)
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
SEO SIMPLE PACK 100K+ · 4.6★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑2 6 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.