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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “states map”

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 “states map”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 2 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

Interactive US Map – Create Clickable & Customizable U.S. Maps shows at wp.org #7 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty places #10 on merit, 5.0★ from 1244 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too low 2 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #1 ↑1 1 too high 3 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #4 ↑4 1 too low 4 Flexible Map 7K+ · 4.8★ (66) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 MapGeo – Interactive Geo Maps 30K+ · 4.4★ (65) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #9 2 too low 8 WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88) wp.org #8 9 W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420) wp.org #18 9 too low 10 Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244) wp.org #21 ↓1 11 too low 11 Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) wp.org #10 ↓4 1 too high 12 HTML5 Maps 4K+ · 4.6★ (45) wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too high 13 Simple Shortcode for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.6★ (46) wp.org #14 ↓2 1 too low 14 MapSVG – Vector maps, Image maps, Google Maps 1K+ · 4.5★ (31) wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too high 15 Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #22 7 too low 16 Leaflet Maps Marker (Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Bing Maps) 9K+ · 4.6★ (244) wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too low 17 Interactive US Map – Create Clickable & Customizable U.S. Maps 200+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #7 10 too high 18 Kikote – Location Picker at Checkout & Google Address AutoFill Plugin for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (65) wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too low 19 Google for WooCommerce 800K+ · 2.7★ (268) wp.org #24 ↓1 5 too low 20 Interactive US Map 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↓2 3 too low 21 Interactive Australia Map 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 8 too high 22 Treweler Map Builder 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 Alpha Google Map For Elementor 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 7 too high 24 MatrixMap – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Store Locator & World Maps 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↑2 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.