wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “task”
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 “task”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
LazyTasks – Project & Task Management with Collaboration, Kanban and Gantt Chart shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 90+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 397 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. 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 #2 1 too low 2 
Code Snippets 1M+ · 4.7★ (510) not PHP-current
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195)
wp.org #6 ↑3 3 too low 4 
FluentBoards – Project Management, Task Management, Goal Tracking, Kanban Board, and, Team Collaboration 6K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #3 ↓2 1 too high 5 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #9 ↑2 4 too low 6 
Project Manager – AI Powered Project Management, Task Management, Kanban Board & Time Tracker 5K+ · 3.8★ (187)
wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too high 7 
WP Webhooks – Automate repetitive tasks by creating powerful automation workflows directly within WordPress 20K+ · 4.7★ (55)
wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #12 ↓5 4 too low 9 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228)
wp.org #15 ↑6 6 too low 10 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↑4 11 
Better Search Replace 1M+ · 4.3★ (546)
wp.org #14 ↑2 3 too low 12 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #21 ↑1 9 too low 13 
Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #19 6 too low 14 
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167)
wp.org #16 ↓3 1 too low 16 
Advanced Editor Tools 1M+ · 4.5★ (354)
wp.org #17 ↓9 1 too low 17 
Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements 400K+ · 4.9★ (5925) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↑1 6 too low 18 
Taskbuilder – Project Management & Task Management Tool With Kanban Board 700+ · 4.7★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓2 10 too high 19 LazyTasks – Project & Task Management with Collaboration, Kanban and Gantt Chart 90+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓2 12 too high 20 
Index WP MySQL For Speed 50K+ · 4.8★ (99) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 ↑5 2 too high 21 
OttoKit: All-in-One Automation Platform 90K+ · 4.9★ (125) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #22 ↓5 1 too low 22 
Hostinger Tools 3M+ · 3.5★ (40) host-installed base
wp.org #11 ↓1 11 too high 23 
Cron Tasks Viewer 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 10 too high 24 
Kanbanz 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #24 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.