wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “table”
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 “table”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
TableKit – WordPress Table Builder for Data Tables, WooCommerce Product Tables & Post Tables shows at wp.org #8 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder places #7 on merit, 4.6★ from 472 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #1 2 
WP Table Builder – Drag & Drop Table Builder 50K+ · 4.8★ (681)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Table of Contents Plus – Automatic Table of Contents for Posts & Pages 200K+ · 4.5★ (187)
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
wpDataTables – WordPress Data Table, Dynamic Tables & Table Charts Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (449)
wp.org #4 5 
Easy Table of Contents 600K+ · 4.4★ (221)
wp.org #5 6 
Table Field Add-on for ACF and SCF 50K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #6 ↑11 7 Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (472)
wp.org #11 ↓5 4 too low 8 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #9 ↑9 1 too low 9 
Flexible Table Block 40K+ · 4.9★ (34)
wp.org #7 ↑1 2 too high 10 
Product Table & List Builder for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.9★ (254)
wp.org #13 ↓2 3 too low 11 
Pricing Table by Supsystic – Responsive Pricing Plans & Comparison Tables 10K+ · 4.1★ (288)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Product Table for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.8★ (295) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Table Rate Shipping for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (74)
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 
SimpleTOC – Table of Contents Block 10K+ · 4.9★ (77)
wp.org #22 ↑2 8 too low 15 
Joli Table Of Contents – Table of Contents with Gutenberg Block & Shortcode 7K+ · 4.9★ (43)
wp.org #19 ↑5 4 too low 16 
Tiered Pricing Table for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (104) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓7 17 
Table Sorter 5K+ · 4.8★ (29)
wp.org #17 ↓3 18 
FlexTable – Data Table Sync with Google Sheets 3K+ · 4.6★ (35)
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
Heroic Table of Contents 5K+ · 4.7★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too high 20 TableKit – WordPress Table Builder for Data Tables, WooCommerce Product Tables & Post Tables 3K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 12 too high 21 
Posts Table with Search & Sort 3K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑3 1 too high 22 
Pricing Table – Responsive & Easy 3K+ · 4.2★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 ↓3 2 too low 23 
Table Of Contents Block 10K+ · 4.3★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓3 5 too high 24 
Table for Divi 1K+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓3 1 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.