Plugin Pulse Beta
← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “studio”

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 “studio”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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

AI Agent by SiteGround shows at wp.org #4 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 1M+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.7★ average from 98 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia places #9 on merit, 4.6★ from 793 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 Black Studio TinyMCE Widget 200K+ · 4.8★ (191) wp.org #1 2 Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155) wp.org #11 ↑2 6 too low 6 LA-Studio Element Kit for Elementor 10K+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #12 ↓4 5 too low 8 Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195) wp.org #13 ↓3 5 too low 9 Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793) wp.org #21 ↓1 12 too low 10 wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449) wp.org #22 ↓3 12 too low 11 Create 6K+ · 4.3★ (25) wp.org #9 2 too high 12 Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) wp.org #19 ↓2 7 too low 13 Metricool – Social media and site statistics 90K+ · 4.4★ (23) wp.org #20 ↓2 7 too low 14 Gym Builder – Class Timetable & Booking for Gyms, Fitness & Yoga Studios 100+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #23 ↓2 9 too low 15 Studio Modules for Divi | Divi Studio Lite 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↓2 9 too high 16 AI for Home Services 800+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #10 6 too high 17 WP Film Studio – WordPress Movie Maker/Production Plugin 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 ↓2 9 too high 18 AI Agent by SiteGround 1M+ · 1.7★ (98) wp.org #4 ↓1 14 too high 19 PhotoBerry Studio for Photographers – Image Selection, Proofing, Watermarking & Client Management 50+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 ↓3 5 too high 20 Web Pixel Studio Cookie Consent for EU 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #15 ↓3 5 too high 21 DT Bulk Content Studio 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 Web Pixel Studio Image Compressor 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓3 5 too high 23 Flodesk for Elementor Pro 800+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↓3 5 too high 24 F FameTheme Demo Importer 30K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓2

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.