wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “styled maps”

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 “styled maps”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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 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

GDPR-DSGVO compliant Embeds for Google Maps shows at wp.org #12 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links places #8 on merit, 4.8★ from 1322 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147) wp.org #1 2

Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172) wp.org #4 2 too low 3

Styled Calendar – Customizable, Mobile Responsive Google Calendar Embeds 1K+ · 4.4★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #2 1 too high 4

WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #8 ↓2 4 too low 5

Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #9 ↓1 4 too low 6

WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88) wp.org #7 1 too low 7

Very Simple Google Maps 3K+ · 4.5★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #3 4 too high 8

PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322) wp.org #13 5 too low 9

WP GPX Maps 4K+ · 4.1★ (59) not PHP-current wp.org #5 4 too high 10

Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) heavy footprint wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too low 11

Qi Addons For Elementor 200K+ · 4.8★ (205) wp.org #14 3 too low 12

GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) heavy footprint wp.org #17 5 too low 13

Snazzy Maps 30K+ · 4.2★ (15) thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #6 ↓1 7 too high 14

Waymark 900+ · 5.0★ (54) wp.org #15 ↓3 1 too low 15

Dynific Addons for Elementor (formerly Anywhere Elementor) 70K+ · 4.8★ (104) wp.org #20 ↓2 5 too low 16

Interactive Image Map Builder 1K+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 6 too high 17

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓3 1 too low 18

Nexter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder & AI Website Builder 9K+ · 4.8★ (90) heavy footprint wp.org #19 ↑5 1 too low 19

HT Mega Addons for Elementor – Elementor Widgets & Template Builder 60K+ · 4.1★ (66) wp.org #23 4 too low 20

Qi Blocks 60K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #16 4 too high 21

GDPR-DSGVO compliant Embeds for Google Maps 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 9 too high 22

bBlocks – Essential Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns Collection 700+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 23

PicPoints – Interactive Image Map & Hotspot Builder 70+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24

IS-Google Maps Lite 50+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews 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.