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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “stackoverflow answers”

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 “stackoverflow answers”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 of the top 20. 13 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

CM Map Locations – Visualize and share your locations in a few clicks shows at wp.org #15 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 70+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.5★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

YARPP – Yet Another Related Posts Plugin places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 1165 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 CM Answers – Discussion Forum Plugin for WordPress Q&A 300+ · 3.8★ (86) wp.org #1 2 WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3 CM Tooltip Glossary 7K+ · 4.3★ (157) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 CM Search And Replace – Optimize content edits with a powerful search and replace tool 2K+ · 4.2★ (15) wp.org #2 ↑1 2 too high 5 YARPP – Yet Another Related Posts Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (1165) wp.org #19 14 too low 6 CM E-Mail Blacklist – Simple email filtering for safer registration 800+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 CM Download Manager – Organize, Protect & Share Files in WordPress 100+ · 3.9★ (43) wp.org #18 11 too low 8 CM Footnotes – Boost your content’s credibility with footnotes, citations, and bibliography 100+ · 4.2★ (6) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 CM Header and Footer – Add custom scripts and styles to your header and footer with ease 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 CM Custom Reports – Flexible reporting to track what matters most 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #8 2 too high 11 CM Business Directory – Optimise and showcase local business 30+ · 3.9★ (11) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 CM Ad Changer – A simple tool to control and optimize your site’s banners 100+ · 3.1★ (15) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 CM Table Of Contents – Clear navigation for better content discovery 100+ · 3.3★ (9) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 CM Registration – Tailored tool for seamless login and invitation-based registrations 30+ · 3.8★ (8) wp.org #13 ↑4 1 too high 15 CM Curated List Manager – Effortless tool for link management 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 5 too high 16 CM Video Lessons Manager – Simplify video lessons management for better education 30+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 CM FAQ – Simplify support with an intuitive FAQ management tool 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 ↓1 18 CM Product Recommendation Widget 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19 Author Spotlight (Widget) 100+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #23 4 too low 20 Give Me Answer Lite 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 21 R rtWidgets 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 CM Map Locations – Visualize and share your locations in a few clicks 70+ · 2.5★ (4) wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 S StackOverflow Profile 10+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 S StackOverflow Answers Widget 10+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #22 2 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.