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

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 “unapproved”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Bulk Delete Comments shows at wp.org #3 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.8★ average from 13 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Customize WordPress Emails and Alerts – Better Notifications for WP places #4 on merit, 4.8★ from 184 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #1 2 Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 WP-Sweep 100K+ · 4.7★ (138) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Customize WordPress Emails and Alerts – Better Notifications for WP 30K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 WP Approve User 3K+ · 4.2★ (42) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Disable Comments & Delete All Comments 9K+ · 5.0★ (41) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 Notification – Custom Notifications and Alerts for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (124) wp.org #10 3 too low 8 LWS Cleaner 20K+ · 4.8★ (16) wp.org #5 3 too high 9 ProveSource Social Proof 2K+ · 4.8★ (72) wp.org #9 10 Bulk Delete Comments 5K+ · 3.8★ (13) wp.org #3 ↓1 7 too high 11 WP Webhooks – Automate repetitive tasks by creating powerful automation workflows directly within WordPress 20K+ · 4.7★ (55) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 BuddyPress Members Only 900+ · 3.7★ (26) wp.org #18 6 too low 13 LWSCache 5K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #14 1 too low 14 SweepPress: Website Cleanup and Optimization 500+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #15 1 too low 15 WP Admin Audit 1K+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #11 4 too high 16 JetHost Total Care – Security & Enhancements 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 4 too high 17 FV Thoughtful Comments 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Adminify Activity Log & Audit Trail 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 CBX Petition 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 20 SEO Auditor Tools 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 tlloancy Outgoing Mail Inbox 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Advanced Clean Master – Complete Site Cleanup & Database Optimizer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Pending Comments Highlighter 10+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 AIO Performance Profiler, Monitor, Optimize, Compress & Debug 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24

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.