wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “timestamp”

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 “timestamp”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 2 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

PRyC WP: Add timestamp to style.css link shows at wp.org #2 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 80+ 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

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 1962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Last Modified Timestamp 6K+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #1 2

Mail logging & Catcher 20K+ · 4.9★ (108) wp.org #4 2 too low 3

301 Redirects – Redirect Manager 300K+ · 4.7★ (578) wp.org #5 ↑4 2 too low 4

WP Last Modified Info 40K+ · 4.9★ (855) wp.org #8 3 too low 6

Firelight Lightbox 200K+ · 4.8★ (361) wp.org #7 ↓2 1 too low 7

404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring 100K+ · 4.7★ (321) wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too low 8

Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too high 9

Cookie Compliance for WordPress – Cookie Consent, GDPR & CCPA 800K+ · 4.8★ (3026) wp.org #14 ↑6 5 too low 10

Image Watermark 40K+ · 4.2★ (298) wp.org #12 ↑2 2 too low 11

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962) wp.org #23 ↓11 12 too low 12

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #20 ↓1 8 too low 13

WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #13 14

Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 60K+ · 4.8★ (94) wp.org #19 ↓1 5 too low 15

WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346) wp.org #21 6 too low 16

PRyC WP: Add timestamp to style.css link 80+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #2 14 too high 17

EU Withdrawal and Legal Guarantee Compliance 1K+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓5 6 too high 18

When Last Login 40K+ · 4.7★ (37) wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19

301 Redirects & 404 Error Log 30K+ · 4.6★ (28) wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too high 20

SEO Redirection Plugin – 301 Redirect Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (73) wp.org #22 2 too low 21

NinjaFirewall (WP Edition) – Advanced Security Plugin and Firewall 100K+ · 4.9★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 3 too low 22

Cachebuster 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↑1 13 too high 23

Smart Auto Upload Images – Import External Images 5K+ · 4.3★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #17 6 too high 24

GoSMTP – SMTP for WordPress 500K+ · 4.3★ (10) host-installed base thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 6 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.