wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “simple widget”
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 widget”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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.
Ranked above its merit
Simple Google Calendar Outlook Events Widget shows at wp.org #14 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 1516 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 
Simple Membership 40K+ · 4.6★ (475) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↑3 1 too high 4 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #5 ↑1 6 
Simple Share Buttons Adder 40K+ · 4.3★ (627)
wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too low 7 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too low 8 Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #15 7 too low 9 
Seriously Simple Podcasting 20K+ · 4.7★ (330) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 S Simple Lightbox 100K+ · 4.3★ (239) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↑2 3 too high 11 
Simple Download Monitor 20K+ · 4.7★ (158)
wp.org #12 ↑4 1 too low 12 
Simple Author Box 90K+ · 4.3★ (115) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↑1 6 too high 13 
Black Studio TinyMCE Widget 200K+ · 4.8★ (191)
wp.org #17 ↑1 4 too low 14 
Simple Social Icons 100K+ · 4.3★ (92)
wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too high 15 
Simple Shopping Cart 10K+ · 4.6★ (215)
wp.org #18 3 too low 16 
Widgets for Social Photo Feed 10K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #11 ↑3 5 too high 17 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Simple Sitemap – Responsive HTML Sitemap for WordPress 60K+ · 3.9★ (72)
wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too high 20 
AccessiYes Accessibility Widget for ADA, EAA & WCAG Readiness 20K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 
Simple Job Board 10K+ · 4.7★ (133) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↑2 1 too high 22 
Simple Chat Button 40K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #19 3 too high 23 
Genesis Simple Sidebars 10K+ · 4.4★ (27)
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Simple Google Calendar Outlook Events Widget 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 10 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.