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

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 “tablesorter”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

Bulk Product Commander shows at wp.org #3 but places #8 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its — 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Table Sorter 5K+ · 4.8★ (29) wp.org #1 2

Autoptimize 800K+ · 4.7★ (1428) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3

WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #5 ↑1 2 too low 4

European VAT Compliance Assistant for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.8★ (26) wp.org #7 ↑1 3 too low 5

CSV to HTML 300+ · 5.0★ (22) heavy footprint thin reviews wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too low 6

League Table – WordPress Table Plugin 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 ↑1 4 too high 7

Translation Stats 10+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #10 3 too low 8

Bulk Product Commander — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 ↑1 5 too high 9 B bodi0`s Bots visits counter 100+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 4 too low 10

LH Sortable Tables 90+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #6 ↑1 4 too high 11

Gravity Forms Directory 500+ · 3.2★ (34) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk wp.org #17 6 too low 12

LandTech Extras for Elementor 80+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓7 3 too high 13

WP Get The Table 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 2 too high 14

Convert PT AO90 for GlotPress — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 15

Adrotate Extra Settings 50+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 16

wp-championship 40+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #12 4 too high 17

RSG Compiled Libraries 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 1 too high 18 R RSG Retrieve Google Drive Spreadsheet — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 19 R Rate This Page Plugin 10+ · 3.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 1 too low 20 A ACF Field Display 10+ · 1.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 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.