wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sql chart”
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 “sql chart”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
LazyTasks – Project & Task Management with Collaboration, Kanban and Gantt Chart shows at wp.org #11 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 90+ 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
AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too low 2 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3 
SQL Chart Builder 500+ · 3.9★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 too high 4 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Post Views Counter 100K+ · 4.9★ (1238)
wp.org #8 ↑5 3 too low 6 
Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (472)
wp.org #7 ↓2 1 too low 7 
FluentSnippets – High-Performance Code Snippets, Header & Footer Code, Custom CSS & PHP Code Manager 50K+ · 4.7★ (78)
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too high 8 
Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (807)
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9 
SlimStat Analytics – Real-Time Stats, Heatmaps & Ecommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (816)
wp.org #14 5 too low 10 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #10 11 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874)
wp.org #19 8 too low 12 
Graphina – Charts and Graphs For Elementor 9K+ · 4.1★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #4 8 too high 13 
FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250)
wp.org #15 ↑3 2 too low 14 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
YaySMTP – WP Mail SMTP with Email Logs, Tracking & Reports 10K+ · 4.9★ (45)
wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too high 16 
Secure Copy Content Protection and Content Locking 20K+ · 4.3★ (62)
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17 
Project Manager – AI Powered Project Management, Task Management, Kanban Board & Time Tracker 5K+ · 3.8★ (187)
wp.org #21 ↓1 4 too low 18 
WP Bannerize Pro 800+ · 4.9★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #12 6 too high 19 
Code Profiler – WordPress Performance Profiling and Debugging Made Easy 8K+ · 4.3★ (36)
wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 
Insights from Google PageSpeed 10K+ · 4.8★ (28)
wp.org #23 ↓2 3 too low 21 LazyTasks – Project & Task Management with Collaboration, Kanban and Gantt Chart 90+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #11 10 too high 22 
Metorik – Reports & Email Automation for WooCommerce 9K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓2 2 too low 23 
BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓7 1 too high 24 
Chartsy 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 4 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.