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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “ui elements”

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 “ui elements”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 4 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

Unlimited Elements Blocks Library shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 500+ 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

Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 1679 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Shortcodes Ultimate – Content Elements 400K+ · 4.9★ (5924) wp.org #1 2 Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2136) wp.org #8 ↑1 6 too low 3 Element Pack Addons for Elementor – Elementor Widgets, Elementor Templates, Elementor Addons 100K+ · 4.7★ (284) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 All-in-one Sticky Floating Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, and 50+ Social Icon Tabs – My Sticky Elements 40K+ · 4.9★ (542) wp.org #13 ↓1 9 too low 5 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (424) wp.org #15 ↑8 10 too low 6 ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2045) wp.org #16 ↑4 10 too low 7 Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1679) wp.org #22 ↓6 15 too low 8 Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131) wp.org #21 ↑1 13 too low 9 Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440) wp.org #23 ↓2 14 too low 10 Responsive UI for Beaver Builder 300+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #6 4 too high 11 Wow Elements Addons for Elementor 50+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #10 ↑1 1 too high 12 AI 50K+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #12 ↑2 13 UiCore Elements – Free widgets and templates for Elementor 40K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 10 too high 14 Spider Elements – Premium Elementor Widgets & Addons Library 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 9 too high 15 Ovation Elements 10K+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #2 13 too high 16 Jeg Kit for Elementor – Powerful Addons for Elementor, Widgets & Templates for WordPress 300K+ · 3.8★ (78) wp.org #18 ↓3 2 too low 17 WP Duplicate Page 60K+ · 4.2★ (16) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 WP Basic Elements 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #11 ↓1 7 too high 19 Unlimited Elements Blocks Library 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 15 too high 20 SheetsPilot – AI Spreadsheet Bulk Edit for Posts, WooCommerce Products & SEO 600+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #20 ↓1 21 Elementor Post Grid – News, Magazine & Blog Builder – Ansar Elements 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 Classic Addons – WPBakery Page Builder 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 ↓1 8 too high 23 If-So Conditional Content for Elementor 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 Topper Pack 400+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 7 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.