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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “template filter”

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 “template filter”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor shows at wp.org #11 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 18 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 YMC Filter 4K+ · 4.8★ (34) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too high 4 Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 Starter Templates: AI-Powered Website Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 1M+ · 4.9★ (4755) wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 HUSKY – Products Filter for WooCommerce Professional. MCP is onboard 80K+ · 4.6★ (337) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 Category AJAX Filter – Posts, Custom Post Types & Product Filter 6K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #6 ↑2 2 too high 9 Search & Filter 40K+ · 4.5★ (175) wp.org #9 10 Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #14 ↑2 3 too low 12 Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81) wp.org #10 2 too high 13 The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too low 14 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #23 ↓2 9 too low 15 Templately – Elementor & Gutenberg Template Library: 6500+ Free & Pro Ready Templates And Cloud! 300K+ · 5.0★ (383) wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too low 16 ShopEngine – All-in-One Elementor WooCommerce Builder with eCommerce Templates & Woo Widgets 100K+ · 4.6★ (212) wp.org #20 4 too low 17 Plugin Load Filter 7K+ · 4.8★ (52) wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 Filter Gallery 3K+ · 4.6★ (22) wp.org #13 5 too high 19 HappyAddons for Elementor – 160 Elementor Widgets, GSAP Animations & Templates 400K+ · 4.8★ (489) wp.org #22 3 too low 20 Mailonix – Email Template Customizer for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (105) wp.org #17 3 too high 21 Better Post & Filter Widgets for Elementor 4K+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #11 10 too high 22 Custom Field Template 30K+ · 4.0★ (24) wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 WCAPF – Ajax Product Filter for WooCommerce 8K+ · 4.3★ (44) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Kadence Starter Templates — Predesigned Website Templates 200K+ · 4.3★ (19) wp.org #21 ↑1 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.