wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sub buttons”
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 “sub buttons”, 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Safelayout Brilliant Buttons – WordPress Buttons shows at wp.org #5 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 14 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
Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #8 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #1 2 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440)
wp.org #2 3 
Max Mega Menu 300K+ · 4.8★ (882)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Polylang 900K+ · 4.7★ (3004)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #12 6 too low 7 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #13 6 too low 8 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526)
wp.org #18 10 too low 9 
Image Regenerate & Select Crop 7K+ · 4.7★ (58)
wp.org #9 10 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #15 5 too low 11 
Nobs • Share Buttons 3K+ · 4.7★ (93)
wp.org #11 12 
Buttonizer – Live Chat, AI Chatbot, Call, Chat, Contact Button 50K+ · 5.0★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #8 4 too high 13 
Translate WordPress – Google Language Translator 100K+ · 4.7★ (620)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
Responsive Menu – Mobile Menu & Hamburger Menu Builder 70K+ · 4.5★ (576)
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
WP Reset 300K+ · 4.8★ (1014)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
Bolt CTA Button – Floating Call Button for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #3 13 too high 17 
Email Templates Customizer and Designer for WordPress and WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (133)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
Copy Anything to Clipboard for WordPress – Copy Button, Copy Text & Copy Code 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 Safelayout Brilliant Buttons – WordPress Buttons 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #5 14 too high 20 
Floating Button – Easily Create Sticky, Fixed & Floating Buttons 4K+ · 3.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #10 10 too high 21 
ChatHelp – Click to Chat Button, Chat to Order for WooCommerce & Floating Chat Form 2K+ · 4.4★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #17 4 too high 22 
Floating Action Button 900+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #14 8 too high 23 
Bubble Menu – Floating Button Menu with Sticky Navigation 1K+ · 4.2★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
CookieAdmin – Cookie Consent Banner 400K+ · 5.0★ (4) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #16 8 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.