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

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 “suche”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 5 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Pride Kalender shows at wp.org #19 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ 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

WP Downgrade | Specific Core Version places #2 on merit, 4.8★ from 169 reviews, but shows at wp.org #6. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

affiliate-toolkit – Multi-Network Affiliate & Amazon Product Display 2K+ · 4.5★ (22) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

WP Downgrade | Specific Core Version 100K+ · 4.8★ (169) wp.org #6 ↓1 4 too low 3

WP2LEADS | WordPress und KlickTipp einfach verbinden – WooCommerce und KlickTipp einfach verbinden 70+ · 4.8★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #11 8 too low 4

Gartentechnik.com 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 2 too high 5

Worthy – VG WORT Integration für WordPress 1K+ · 4.1★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↑1 7 too low 6

PriceBoard Lite — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 3 too high 7

Fabriel Team Manager 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 ↑3 3 too high 8

EOM Preferred Sources Button — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too high 9

Feedback Plugin – Flowdust 10+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑1 9 too low 10

Advanced Search Disabler — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too high 11

Heyrecruit 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #8 3 too high 12

Libration Accessibility Widget, Checker and Real Code Fixes – WCAG and EAA 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too high 13

TARIFFUXX 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 3 too high 14

Kletterpartner-Suche 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too high 15

WhoIsMember – Member Directory, User Activity Log & Who Is Online — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #15 16

Tebuto – Online-Terminbuchung — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #17 1 too low 17

ISBN Book Search 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 3 too high 18

vyble® Recruiting — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 2 too high 19

SEO4CMS — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 2 too low 20 M Mapple — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 2 too low 21 A Autonachrichten Newsfeed — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #23 2 too low 22

SpeakStaff Audio Player 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #24 2 too low 23

Pride Kalender 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24

Simple Google Translate Widget 80+ · 3.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 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.