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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “text blocks”

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 “text blocks”, we agree with wp.org 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

Iconic Copy Text Blocks shows at wp.org #8 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 5039 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333) wp.org #1 2 Otter Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder for Gutenberg Editor & FSE 300K+ · 4.7★ (251) wp.org #2 3 Gutenberg Essential Blocks – Page Builder for Gutenberg Blocks & Patterns 100K+ · 4.9★ (216) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Ultimate Blocks – 25+ Gutenberg Blocks for Block Editor 50K+ · 4.9★ (729) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Spectra Blocks – AI Website Builder for the Block Editor 60K+ · 4.6★ (53) wp.org #3 2 too high 6 Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks 1M+ · 4.7★ (1872) wp.org #6 7 Stackable – Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks 100K+ · 4.9★ (522) wp.org #15 8 too low 8 Image Alt Text 10K+ · 5.0★ (56) wp.org #12 4 too low 9 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #19 10 too low 10 GutenKit – Page Builder Blocks, Patterns, and Templates for Gutenberg Block Editor 80K+ · 4.5★ (48) wp.org #10 11 Custom Block Builder – Lazy Blocks 20K+ · 4.9★ (80) wp.org #17 6 too low 12 Superb Addons: Blocks, Patterns, Pre-built Pages, Sliders, Popups, Free Forms, Animations & More 80K+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Text To Speech TTS Accessibility 4K+ · 4.8★ (92) wp.org #20 7 too low 14 Bootstrap Blocks 10K+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #16 2 too low 15 Greenshift – animation and page builder blocks 70K+ · 4.8★ (107) wp.org #18 3 too low 16 VK Blocks 100K+ · 4.8★ (6) wp.org #7 9 too high 17 Animated Text Block – Add Typing and Looping Text Effects 4K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #9 8 too high 18 Recipe Card Blocks Lite 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 BlockArt Blocks – Gutenberg Blocks, Page Builder Blocks ,WordPress Block Plugin, Sections & Template Library 10K+ · 4.9★ (16) wp.org #22 3 too low 20 Iconic Copy Text Blocks 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #8 12 too high 21 Magazine Blocks – Blog Designer, Magazine & Newspaper Website Builder, Page Builder with Posts Blocks, Post Grid 6K+ · 4.9★ (11) wp.org #21 22 Qi Blocks 60K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #14 8 too high 23 Snow Monkey Blocks 30K+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #13 10 too high 24 Text Unfold For Elementor 3K+ · 4.6★ (7) 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.