wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “stuff lists”

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 “stuff lists”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Just show free stuff in Elementor shows at wp.org #5 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 30+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 4514 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526) wp.org #7 ↑2 5 too low 3

JS Archive List 3K+ · 4.8★ (45) wp.org #3 4

Team Members – Multi Language Supported Team Plugin 6K+ · 5.0★ (85) wp.org #4 5

Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery 100K+ · 4.5★ (1581) wp.org #11 ↑1 6 too low 6

Blackhole for Bad Bots 30K+ · 4.7★ (148) wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7

Quick and Easy FAQs 10K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #6 1 too high 8

Carousel Slider 30K+ · 4.3★ (160) wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too low 9

Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #17 ↓2 8 too low 10

BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #12 ↓4 2 too low 11

Happyforms – Form Builder for WordPress: Drag & Drop Contact Forms, Surveys, Payments & Multipurpose Forms 20K+ · 4.4★ (433) wp.org #14 3 too low 12

CartBounty – Save and recover abandoned carts for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (84) wp.org #15 ↑1 3 too low 13

WP Consent API 200K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #1 ↑1 12 too high 14

Add Admin CSS 10K+ · 4.9★ (35) wp.org #13 1 too high 15

Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (107) wp.org #20 ↑1 5 too low 16

Newsletters, Email Marketing, SMS and Popups by Omnisend 100K+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↑1 6 too high 17

PDF Builder for WooCommerce. Create invoices,packing slips and more 2K+ · 4.7★ (145) wp.org #23 6 too low 18

AIO Forms – Craft Complex Forms Easily 600+ · 4.9★ (34) wp.org #18 19

Scrollsequence – Cinematic Scroll Image Animation Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #24 5 too low 20

Recently 300+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #19 2 too high 22 J Just show free stuff in Elementor 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #5 17 too high 23

GetResponse Official 4K+ · 4.3★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↑1 7 too high 24

Fast Post Lists 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 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.