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← Rankings

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

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

Stitch Express shows at wp.org #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 600+ 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

Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro places #2 on merit, 4.7★ from 122 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 W WP-OTP 100+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #1 2 Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122) wp.org #9 ↑3 7 too low 3 CoolClock 1K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #8 5 too low 4 Revolut Gateway for WooCommerce 7K+ · 3.2★ (45) wp.org #12 ↓1 8 too low 5 Rich Menu Details: Icons & Subtext 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #2 3 too high 6 Responsive Blocks – Page Builder for Blocks & Patterns 3K+ · 4.8★ (17) wp.org #14 8 too low 7 Init Review System – Reactions, Multi-Criteria, Guest-Friendly 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 4 too high 8 Add as Preferred Source on Google 900+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 MyAccount Studio — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 F Floating CTA (Free Edition) 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 5 too high 11 Buckaroo Payments for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.7★ (6) wp.org #11 ↓2 12 tells — Text Analysis Widget — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 6 too high 13 S Super Zoom Gallery 200+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #22 9 too low 14 TVS Block Newsletter — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 7 too high 15 O OneSpace Last Post 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 6 too low 16 OpptiAI Alt Text – AI Alt Text Generator for Image SEO 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 17 Connect Paid Memberships Pro to Subtext — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 Semantic Journey 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 19 Image Links 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 PSBDx Smart Report Management — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 1 too high 21 Stitch Express 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 11 too high 22 MEYDY Reel Studio — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 2 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.