wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “theme modifications”
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 “theme modifications”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Reset Customizer shows at wp.org #6 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 700+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup places #11 on merit, 4.5★ from 7676 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.
Child Theme Configurator 300K+ · 4.7★ (280)
wp.org #1 2 
Download Plugins and Themes in ZIP from Dashboard 30K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Customizer Backup & Reset 7K+ · 4.2★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220)
wp.org #7 3 too low 5 
Darkify – Dark Mode & Night Mode for Website & Admin (Dark Theme Included) 1K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too high 6 
Media Library Assistant 70K+ · 4.8★ (202)
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 
XML Sitemap & Google News 100K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
WP-PageNavi 400K+ · 4.7★ (149)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
Additional Variation Images Gallery for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (162)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #16 6 too low 11 All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #19 ↓1 8 too low 12 
DTX – Dynamic Text Extension for Contact Form 7 100K+ · 4.7★ (99)
wp.org #14 2 too low 13 
Defender Security – Malware Scanner, Login Security & Firewall 80K+ · 4.8★ (334)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
Enable bbPress for Block Themes 200+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓1 9 too high 15 
Connect Matomo – Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (95)
wp.org #24 ↓1 9 too low 16 
Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too low 18 
Disable Comments 100K+ · 3.8★ (25)
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 
Download Plugin 60K+ · 4.5★ (27)
wp.org #23 ↓1 4 too low 20 
Post Types Unlimited 10K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #20 21 
Genesis Connect for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.1★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↑2 1 too low 22 Reset Customizer 700+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #6 16 too high 23 
Surbma | Divi Extras 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #15 8 too high 24 
Mystery Themes Demo Importer 6K+ · 2.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #9 15 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.