wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sortable table”
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 table”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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
Table Editor shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 2617 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Table Builder – Drag & Drop Table Builder 50K+ · 4.8★ (681)
wp.org #1 2 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #2 3 
Product Table & List Builder for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.9★ (254)
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Data Tables Generator by Supsystic – Excel-like, WooCommerce & Pricing Tables 10K+ · 4.7★ (497)
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
Posts Table with Search & Sort 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too low 8 
Table Sorter 5K+ · 4.8★ (29)
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296)
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 
Tablesome Table – Contact Form DB – WPForms, CF7, Gravity, Forminator, Fluent 7K+ · 4.8★ (89)
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 
Database for Contact Form 7, WPforms, Elementor forms 60K+ · 4.8★ (124)
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #20 8 too low 13 
Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order 500K+ · 4.5★ (162)
wp.org #19 6 too low 14 
TableKit – WordPress Table Builder for Data Tables, WooCommerce Product Tables & Post Tables 3K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #6 8 too high 15 
WRC Pricing Tables – Responsive CSS3 Pricing Tables 1K+ · 4.2★ (36)
wp.org #18 3 too low 16 
Download Attachments 8K+ · 4.5★ (46)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
WP Last Login 10K+ · 3.8★ (26)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Document Library Lite 4K+ · 4.1★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
TableMaster for Elementor – Responsive Data Tables & Comparison Tables 400+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #16 3 too high 20 
Sortable Dashboard To-Do List 80+ · 4.5★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #14 6 too high 21 
wpDataTables integration for Forminator Forms 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #12 9 too high 22 
JustTables – WooCommerce Product Table 500+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Table Editor 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
Table Addons for Elementor – Responsive Table Builder 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #17 7 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.