wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “startpage”
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 “startpage”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 19. 4 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
Language switcher popup for WPML – stores selected language in a cookie – SEO friendly shows at wp.org #8 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 80+ 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.
EZDIGI Tool — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 2 
Really Simple Under Construction Page – Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode 1K+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #5 3 too low 3 T TAO Schedule Update 2K+ · 4.6★ (31) closure risk
wp.org #13 10 too low 4 
BotObservatory – Live Bot Tracker & Anti-Scraper — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
Punchr Lite – PunchOut cXML Bridge for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 D Disable Title 2K+ · 4.2★ (15) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 11 too low 7 
EntrySource Database and UTM Tracker for Contact Form 7 — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 T The Focus Keyword Tool — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
TrackSure Cloud – Server-Side Tracking, Meta CAPI & GA4 for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 
ADCELL Tracking 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 3 too high 11 
FlexiStatic 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 
FlexyConsent – Cookie Consent Management (GDPR, CCPA, IAB TCF) 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Language switcher popup for WPML – stores selected language in a cookie – SEO friendly 80+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 5 too high 14 S startpage 30+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 B Backend Startpage Customizer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 16 D Divisions 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 R Related Images 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 3 too high 18 W WP Topvotes — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 W wuk.ch DNS-Prefetch / Prerender 10+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 3 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.