wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “tabs plugin jquery”
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 “tabs plugin jquery”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 3 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
Tab Ultimate shows at wp.org #4 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 19 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin places #5 on merit, 4.9★ from 4358 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #1 2 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too low 3 
Gutena Tabs 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Plugin Organizer 10K+ · 4.7★ (227) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #15 ↓1 10 too low 6 
Tabby Responsive Tabs 10K+ · 4.9★ (144)
wp.org #13 7 too low 7 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #16 9 too low 8 
Easy Tabs Block – Smart, Lightweight & Responsive Tabs for the Block Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #3 5 too high 9 
jQuery Smooth Scroll 10K+ · 4.5★ (47)
wp.org #9 10 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #19 ↓1 9 too low 11 
External Links in New Window / New Tab 30K+ · 4.5★ (77)
wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too low 12 
CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes 200K+ · 4.7★ (326)
wp.org #21 ↓2 9 too low 13 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #24 11 too low 14 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
Responsive Tabs 4K+ · 4.2★ (41)
wp.org #11 4 too high 16 
Plugin Groups 1K+ · 4.3★ (31) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 6 too high 17 
Plugin Report 1K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #12 5 too high 18 
LazyLoad Plugin – Lazy Load Images, Videos, and Iframes 100K+ · 4.2★ (139)
wp.org #23 ↓1 5 too low 19 
Responsive Tabs — Horizontal, Vertical & Accordion Tabs for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 12 too high 20 
jQuery Post Splitter 100+ · 4.6★ (37)
wp.org #18 2 too high 21 
Coupon Affiliates – Affiliate Plugin for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (77) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↑1 1 too high 22 
WPMasterToolKit (WPMTK) – All in one plugin 5K+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #22 ↓2 23 Tab Ultimate 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↑1 19 too high 24 
Tabs Block – Responsive Gutenberg Tabs for Block Editor 700+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #8 16 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.