wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “this date”
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 “this date”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 6 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
Auto Update Post Date shows at wp.org #8 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 2K+ 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
Delivery & Pickup Date Time for WooCommerce places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 282 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.
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
پارسی دیت – Parsi Date 100K+ · 4.6★ (130)
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #4 5 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 
Persian Date 2K+ · 4.5★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too high 7 
Shortcode for Current Date 10K+ · 5.0★ (116)
wp.org #16 ↓1 9 too low 8 
Show modified Date in admin lists 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 
Bangla Date Display 4K+ · 4.6★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
Order Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.3★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Delivery & Pickup Date Time for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (282) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 ↓1 10 too low 12 
WP Hebrew Date 600+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 
Order Delivery Date And Time 1K+ · 4.6★ (19) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 
Nepali Date Converter 800+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too high 15 
Date Time Picker for Contact Form 7 20K+ · 3.3★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 7 too low 16 
First payment date for WooCommerce Subscriptions 400+ · 4.7★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 7 too low 17 
WPC Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 7 too high 18 
Nepali Date Utilities 1K+ · 4.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #12 6 too high 19 
Users Registration Date – Sortable Users Column 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 5 too low 20 Auto Update Post Date 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 12 too high 21 
Date Picker For Contact Form 7 4K+ · 3.9★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #17 4 too high 22 
Advanced Datepicker – Restrict Date for Elementor Forms 900+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓2 2 too high 23 
Date Time Picker for WPForms 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 5 too high 24 
Advanced Datepicker – Restricts Date for Contact Form 7 500+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 5 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.