wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “suffice”
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 “suffice”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
SMTPPai – Multi Mail SMTP & API with Amazon SES & More shows at wp.org #4 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall places #2 on merit, 4.4★ from 559 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.
SMNTCS Custom Logo Link 2K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 MalCare WordPress Security Plugin – Malware Scanner, Cleaner, Security Firewall 100K+ · 4.4★ (559)
wp.org #6 4 too low 3 
Freight Shipping Quote – Simplify Shipping Cost Requests 300+ · 4.7★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #3 4 
AAA Autoload Optimizer 9K+ · 4.6★ (25)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Advanced Forms for ACF 3K+ · 5.0★ (41)
wp.org #9 ↓1 4 too low 6 
Suffice Toolkit 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 5 too high 7 
Etsy Integration For WooCommerce 900+ · 4.0★ (42)
wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too low 8 
RaCar Clear Cart for WooCommerce 400+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 9 
ExpressTechSoftwares Addon for MemberPress and Discord 200+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 SMTPPai – Multi Mail SMTP & API with Amazon SES & More 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 6 too high 11 
CSS Optimizer – Remove Unused CSS 100+ · 3.7★ (6) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too low 12 S Simple AI Blocker — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 ↓2 5 too high 13 
Coronavirus Spread Prediction Tools Free Version 10+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 14 
RaCar Message Me 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 2 too high 15 
DailyBrief — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too low 16 
Nested Comments Unbound 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17 S SyntaxHighlighter Evolved Themes 40+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 W WP Recipes 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 2 too low 19 F FTP to Zip 30+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 T TIEexpire Automated Post Expiry 20+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too high 21 S Semisecure Login Reimagined 80+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓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.