wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sort dates”
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 “sort dates”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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.
Ranked above its merit
Default Sort Ascend shows at wp.org #7 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 7 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin Columns places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 1652 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
WP Sort Order 6K+ · 4.5★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 too high 4 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #4 5 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #11 6 too low 6 
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406)
wp.org #12 6 too low 7 Admin Columns 100K+ · 4.9★ (1652)
wp.org #18 11 too low 8 
Delivery & Pickup Date Time for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (282) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Posts Table with Search & Sort 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #5 4 too high 10 
Site Reviews 60K+ · 4.9★ (376)
wp.org #17 7 too low 11 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1237)
wp.org #22 11 too low 12 
FileBird – WordPress Media Library Folders & File Manager 200K+ · 4.7★ (1125)
wp.org #20 8 too low 13 
Filter Everything — WordPress & WooCommerce Filters 50K+ · 4.6★ (154)
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 
Show modified Date in admin lists 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #10 4 too high 15 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #24 9 too low 16 
Product Sort and Display for WooCommerce 2K+ · 3.1★ (45)
wp.org #6 10 too high 17 P Page-list 30K+ · 4.7★ (89)
wp.org #19 2 too low 18 D Default Sort Ascend 400+ · 4.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #7 11 too high 19 
Users Registration Date – Sortable Users Column 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #8 11 too high 20 
Order Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.3★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 7 too high 21 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
Smart Product Sort 30+ · 4.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #14 9 too high 24 S Sort SearchResult By Title 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #15 9 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.