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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “theme.json”

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.json”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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

Advanced Columns Block: Layout builder shows at wp.org #14 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Carousel Slider Block for Gutenberg 50K+ · 4.8★ (59) wp.org #1 2 Stackable – Page Builder Gutenberg Blocks 100K+ · 4.9★ (522) wp.org #2 3 SimpleTOC – Table of Contents Block 10K+ · 4.9★ (77) wp.org #3 4 No Gutenberg? – Choose Where to Use the Block Editor or the Classic Editor 9K+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #4 5 Create Block Theme 20K+ · 4.8★ (38) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 CSS Class Manager – An advanced autocomplete additional css class control for your blocks 500+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Secure MCP Server for Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI Agents 8K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #9 2 too low 8 MailerPress – Email Marketing, Newsletter, Email Automation & WooCommerce Emails 1K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #11 3 too low 9 DesignSetGo 8K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 3 too high 10 AI Block Editor – Add and Edit Gutenberg Blocks with an AI Assistant 100+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #10 11 Global Styles Mods – WordPress 5.9 fix 90+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 BlockFlow – FSE Blocks, Site Builder & Starter Templates 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 Neurogenesis Styler – Block Editor Typography, Spacing & Design Controls 20+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 Any Block Carousel Slider 200+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #18 4 too low 15 Editor Custom Color Palette 90+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Flinkform – GDPR Contact Form Builder for the Block Editor 40+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 Inline Typography Controls 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Snap Carousel — Block Style 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 Advanced Columns Block: Layout builder 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 5 too high 20 Groundworx Navigation – Responsive Menu & Mobile Navigation Block 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 1 too high 21 Headingo 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 GT Table Block 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Limbus Maintenance Page & Shop Pause 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 AcrossAI MCP Manager – WordPress MCP Server & Admin for MCP Adapter, Claude & ChatGPT 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 1 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.