wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “super simple”
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 “super simple”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 2 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
Super Blank shows at wp.org #10 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 8 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Smash Balloon Social Post Feed – Simple Social Feeds for WordPress places #7 on merit, 4.7★ from 1511 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #1 2 
Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Maintenance 1M+ · 4.4★ (869)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Super Progressive Web Apps 40K+ · 4.6★ (225)
wp.org #6 ↓2 1 too low 6 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Smash Balloon Social Post Feed – Simple Social Feeds for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (1511)
wp.org #19 12 too low 8 
Super Web Share – Native Social Sharing Button 2K+ · 4.9★ (29)
wp.org #8 ↓3 9 
Super Simple Event Calendar 600+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #3 ↓1 6 too high 10 
Disable Gutenberg 500K+ · 5.0★ (735)
wp.org #18 ↓4 8 too low 11 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143)
wp.org #20 ↓5 9 too low 12 
Scriptless Social Sharing 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #13 ↓4 1 too low 13 
Simple 301 Redirects by BetterLinks – Easy Redirect Manager 100K+ · 3.8★ (162)
wp.org #11 2 too high 14 
Super RSS Reader – Add attractive RSS Feed Widget 9K+ · 4.6★ (67)
wp.org #12 ↓4 2 too high 15 
Simple Floating Menu 10K+ · 5.0★ (38)
wp.org #14 ↓4 1 too high 16 
Popups for Divi 100K+ · 4.8★ (442)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Simple Ajax Chat – Add a Fast, Secure Chat Box 2K+ · 4.9★ (215)
wp.org #23 ↓5 6 too low 18 
Simple Login Captcha 10K+ · 3.9★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓3 9 too high 19 
Simple Download Counter 2K+ · 4.9★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓4 3 too high 20 Super Blank 9K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓3 10 too high 21 
Super Video player – Fully Customizable Video Player with Playlist 2K+ · 4.2★ (30) not PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓4 4 too high 22 
Simple Photo Feed 1K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓4 7 too high 23 
Quick 301 Redirects 7K+ · 4.6★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓5 1 too high 24 
Super Payments – WooCommerce Payment Gateway 200+ · 3.6★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↓5 3 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.