wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sortable”
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 “sortable”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
Sortable Dashboard To-Do List shows at wp.org #5 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 80+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin places #12 on merit, 4.5★ from 449 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #1 2 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #6 4 too low 3 
Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order 500K+ · 4.5★ (162)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Users Registration Date – Sortable Users Column 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1236)
wp.org #14 ↑1 9 too low 6 
Product Table & List Builder for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.9★ (254)
wp.org #13 ↑1 7 too low 7 
Data Tables Generator by Supsystic – Excel-like, WooCommerce & Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.7★ (497)
wp.org #16 9 too low 8 
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #8 ↑1 9 
Sortable Word Count Reloaded 2K+ · 3.7★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #3 6 too high 10 
When Last Login 40K+ · 4.7★ (37)
wp.org #10 ↓3 11 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #20 ↓2 9 too low 12 wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #22 10 too low 13 
WP Last Login 10K+ · 3.8★ (26)
wp.org #7 ↑5 6 too high 14 
Redux Framework 900K+ · 4.4★ (273)
wp.org #15 ↓5 1 too low 15 
Reveal IDs 40K+ · 5.0★ (61)
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 
Table Sorter 5K+ · 4.8★ (29)
wp.org #11 ↓3 5 too high 17 
Posts Table with Search & Sort 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑7 8 too high 18 
WP Sort Order 6K+ · 4.5★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too high 19 
Download Attachments 8K+ · 4.5★ (46)
wp.org #19 20 
Show modified Date in admin lists 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #24 4 too low 21 Sortable Dashboard To-Do List 80+ · 4.5★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #5 16 too high 22 
CatFolders Document Gallery & PDF Library 3K+ · 4.5★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #18 4 too high 23 
Manage User Columns 1K+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24 
wpDataTables integration for Forminator Forms 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 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.