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

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 “subversion”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 of the top 20. 4 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

Scudo Security shows at wp.org #7 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its — 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

Crop-Thumbnails places #7 on merit, 4.6★ from 67 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WP Rollback – Rollback Plugins and Themes 200K+ · 4.9★ (215) wp.org #1 2

BuddyPress 90K+ · 4.1★ (375) wp.org #6 4 too low 3

Leaflet Map 30K+ · 4.9★ (58) wp.org #10 ↓1 7 too low 4

Disqus Conditional Load 3K+ · 4.5★ (64) wp.org #11 ↓1 7 too low 5

Create Block Theme 20K+ · 4.8★ (38) wp.org #12 ↓1 7 too low 6

TuriTop Booking System 500+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #2 4 too high 7

Crop-Thumbnails 40K+ · 4.6★ (67) wp.org #18 ↓1 11 too low 8

Static Site Exporter 400+ · 3.5★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #4 4 too high 9

12 Step Meeting List 900+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #21 ↓1 12 too low 10

MZ Mindbody API 100+ · 5.0★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓1 7 too low 13

Unlock Protocol 40+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14

Paygenius Hosted Payment Gateway 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 9 too high 15

DoFollow Case by Case 1K+ · 4.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16

CoreSeal — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #8 8 too high 17

PW Canvas — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓1 8 too high 18

Scudo Security — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #7 11 too high 19 A Auto Slug Translate — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20

ذره بین 400+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too high 21

Performance & Security 50+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 O OVOAds – Easy Ad Publisher Plugin — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23

WebDiagnosis Site Audit 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24

SimpleSocial 100+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓1 4 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.