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

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 map”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

Simple Site Map Page shows at wp.org #4 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 8K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.3★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner places #7 on merit, 4.7★ from 1667 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Leaflet Map 30K+ · 4.9★ (58) wp.org #1 2 Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70) wp.org #2 3 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) wp.org #7 ↓2 4 too low 4 Map Block for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (21) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #5 ↑1 6 Flexible Map 7K+ · 4.8★ (66) wp.org #6 ↑1 7 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #16 ↑6 9 too low 8 Simple Shortcode for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.6★ (46) wp.org #9 1 too low 9 Simple 301 Redirects by BetterLinks – Easy Redirect Manager 100K+ · 3.8★ (162) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172) wp.org #18 ↓1 8 too low 11 Travelers' Map 1K+ · 5.0★ (46) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 Extensions for Leaflet Map 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Very Simple Google Maps 3K+ · 4.5★ (17) wp.org #8 5 too high 14 Simple Site Map Page 8K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #4 10 too high 15 Interactive Image Map Plugin – Draw Attention 20K+ · 4.9★ (114) wp.org #21 ↓1 6 too low 16 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #22 ↓1 6 too low 17 WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 CodePeople Post Map for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.2★ (31) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 Image Hotspot – Map Image Annotation 3K+ · 4.9★ (22) wp.org #15 4 too high 20 Interactive Image Map Builder 1K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too high 21 HTML5 Maps 4K+ · 4.6★ (45) wp.org #23 2 too low 22 Tuskcode Map Pro for Bing Maps 600+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 Interactive World Map 900+ · 3.5★ (17) wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 Interactive US Map – Create Clickable & Customizable U.S. Maps 300+ · 5.0★ (5) 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.