wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “update date”
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 “update date”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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
Date Time Picker for WPForms shows at wp.org #15 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ 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
Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 133 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.
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #4 2 too low 3 
پارسی دیت – Parsi Date 100K+ · 4.6★ (130)
wp.org #3 4 
Companion Auto Update 40K+ · 4.8★ (105)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31)
wp.org #5 6 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #10 4 too low 7 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #17 10 too low 8 
Auto Update Post Date 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #1 7 too high 9 
Disable All WordPress Updates 20K+ · 4.8★ (69)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 
Show modified Date in admin lists 6K+ · 4.9★ (32)
wp.org #8 2 too high 11 
Shortcode for Current Date 10K+ · 5.0★ (116)
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 Modular DS: Monitor, update, and backup multiple websites 40K+ · 5.0★ (133)
wp.org #23 11 too low 13 
Order Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.3★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 4 too high 14 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #22 8 too low 15 
Content Update Scheduler 2K+ · 4.3★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #7 8 too high 16 
Delivery & Pickup Date Time for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (282) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 5 too low 17 
WP Hebrew Date 600+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 
Order Delivery Date And Time 1K+ · 4.6★ (19) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 6 too high 19 
Date Time Picker for Contact Form 7 20K+ · 3.3★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #19 20 
First payment date for WooCommerce Subscriptions 400+ · 4.7★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #20 21 
Disable Updates for WordPress Core, Plugins and Themes 9K+ · 4.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
Date Picker For Contact Form 7 4K+ · 3.9★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 6 too high 23 
Advanced Datepicker – Restrict Date for Elementor Forms 800+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 5 too high 24 Date Time Picker for WPForms 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #15 9 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.