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

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 “translucent”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 3 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

ButtonCraft Animated Buttons – With Click Analytics shows at wp.org #8 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its — 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.

Buried gem

Mapster WP Maps places #4 on merit, 4.9★ from 54 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Custom Background Changer 1K+ · 4.9★ (7) wp.org #1 2 Essential Classy Addons for Elementor – 150+ Widgets, Templates & Performance Tools 400+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 Ric Ultimate Cookie Consent 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) wp.org #21 ↓2 17 too low 5 MusicIDB Events Calendar 80+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #22 ↓1 17 too low 6 Jamie’s Header Effects 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 ↑2 3 too high 7 JetGridBuilder — Grid Builder for Elementor and Gutenberg 4K+ · 2.8★ (5) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 Code7x Product Card Design for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 GfDesigns 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 2 too high 10 Cybro Glass — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 TAL Server Widget for Discord — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 1 too high 12 ButtonCraft Animated Buttons – With Click Analytics — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 RowVista Slider — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 BloomStack Sticky Cart for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 L Lucjan AI Image Disclosure — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Hunter Dock – Mobile Bottom Navigation — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too high 17 Hapnics Buffet and Meals Schedule Calendar — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↓2 2 too high 18 AICreativa Music Player — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too high 19 Web Barracks Login Branding Studio — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 C ChatHearth – AI Chatbot — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓3 2 too high 21 Elementrio – Ultimate Addons for Elementor, Elementor Kit — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓2 1 too high 22 Translucent image slideshow gallery 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓3 3 too high 23 Blocksolid 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 ↓1 24 Domain Search for WHMCS 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓1

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.