wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “static 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 “static map”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 3 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

WP Remove Query Strings From Static Resources shows at wp.org #6 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 3K+ 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 #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 1244 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195) wp.org #1 2

Leaflet Map 30K+ · 4.9★ (58) wp.org #2 3

Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #3 4

Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5

WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too high 6

Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.7★ (1071) wp.org #8 2 too low 7

Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current wp.org #10 ↓1 3 too low 8

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too low 9

Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) heavy footprint wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too high 10

W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420) wp.org #16 6 too low 11

Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #20 9 too low 12

Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244) wp.org #23 11 too low 13 W WP Photo Album Plus 10K+ · 4.7★ (199) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 ↑5 14

Kikote – Location Picker at Checkout & Google Address AutoFill Plugin for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 2 too high 15

Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) heavy footprint wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16

WP Remove Query Strings From Static Resources 3K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #6 ↑1 10 too high 17

Waymark 900+ · 5.0★ (54) wp.org #24 ↓3 7 too low 18

Vision – Interactive Image Map with Hotspots Builder 2K+ · 4.9★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #11 7 too high 19

Nginx Helper 200K+ · 4.4★ (31) wp.org #17 ↓2 2 too high 20

Static Maps Editor 50+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too high 21

VenoMaps – OpenStreetMap & Privacy-Friendly Geo Maps 400+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #19 2 too high 22

Block for Apple Maps 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23

Track Geolocation Of Users Using Contact Form 7 800+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24

MatrixMap – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Store Locator & World Maps 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 6 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.