wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “small admin”
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 “small admin”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 4 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
Small Package Quotes – Worldwide Express Edition shows at wp.org #16 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 90+ 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
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup places #10 on merit, 4.5★ from 7676 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #1 2 
Admin Menu Editor 300K+ · 4.6★ (312)
wp.org #2 3 
Admin Custom Login 10K+ · 4.6★ (388)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
Admin Menu Tree Page View 10K+ · 4.6★ (48)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
WP Custom Admin Interface 30K+ · 4.7★ (160) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 1 too high 8 
Auto Hide Admin Bar 3K+ · 4.8★ (32)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Add Admin CSS 10K+ · 4.9★ (35)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #24 14 too low 11 
Post Category Filter (WP Admin) 1K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #13 2 too low 12 
Reveal IDs 40K+ · 5.0★ (61)
wp.org #21 9 too low 13 
Slash Admin 500+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #9 4 too high 14 
Church Admin 900+ · 4.7★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
Admin Bookmarks 500+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #10 5 too high 16 
Admin Page Spider 1K+ · 4.8★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
Ever Accounting – Accounting & Invoicing Solution for Small Businesses 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 
Hide Admin Bar Based on User Roles – Disable the WordPress Toolbar by Role or Capability 20K+ · 3.9★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
WP Frontend Admin – Display WP Admin Pages in the Frontend 400+ · 4.9★ (54) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 A Admin Bar & Dashboard Access Control 3K+ · 4.7★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
Admin Options Pages 500+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
WP Admin Audit 1K+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #17 5 too high 23 
Small Package Quotes – UPS Edition 50+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #23 24 Small Package Quotes – Worldwide Express Edition 90+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 8 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.