wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “tricks”
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 “tricks”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Elements Hive for Breakdance shows at wp.org #15 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 19 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Social Media Share Buttons & Social Sharing Icons places #11 on merit, 4.8★ from 5333 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Redirection 100K+ · 5.0★ (419)
wp.org #1 2 
The SEO Framework – Fast, Automated, Effortless. 200K+ · 4.9★ (380)
wp.org #2 3 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #3 4 
WP Recipe Maker 50K+ · 5.0★ (356)
wp.org #4 ↑1 5 
Templately – Elementor & Gutenberg Template Library: 6500+ Free & Pro Ready Templates And Cloud! 300K+ · 5.0★ (383)
wp.org #5 ↑2 6 
Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons 10K+ · 4.9★ (1911)
wp.org #9 ↑4 3 too low 7 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #7 ↑4 8 
Duplicate Post 300K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #10 ↓4 2 too low 9 
Pop-up 10K+ · 4.7★ (86)
wp.org #6 ↑2 3 too high 10 
WP Chat App 100K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too high 11 Social Media Share Buttons & Social Sharing Icons 100K+ · 4.8★ (5333)
wp.org #18 ↓8 7 too low 12 
WP RSS Aggregator – RSS Import, Feed to Post, Autoblogging, AI Content 40K+ · 4.5★ (565)
wp.org #13 ↑1 1 too low 13 
Disable Comments 1M+ · 4.7★ (281)
wp.org #11 ↓7 2 too high 14 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
Reading Position Indicator 800+ · 5.0★ (66)
wp.org #12 ↑3 3 too high 16 
Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ · 4.7★ (189)
wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too high 17 
Advanced Product Fields (Product Addons) for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.8★ (284)
wp.org #20 ↑1 3 too low 18 
Wp Social Login and Register Social Counter 70K+ · 4.6★ (67)
wp.org #21 ↑3 3 too low 19 Elements Hive for Breakdance 1K+ · 5.0★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #15 4 too high 20 
Surfer – WordPress Plugin 6K+ · 4.7★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #16 4 too high 21 
Panda Pods Repeater Field 500+ · 4.5★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 
Animate In View 1K+ · 4.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Team Member Block 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓6 1 too low 24 
ShopEngine Gutenberg WooCommerce Builder Blocks Addon – All in One WooCommerce Solution 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 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.