wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “update log”
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 log”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Auto Update Post Date shows at wp.org #14 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 2K+ 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
Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 292 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.
Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040)
wp.org #4 ↓1 5 
Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491)
wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too low 6 
Companion Auto Update 40K+ · 4.8★ (105)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Go Live Update Urls 90K+ · 4.5★ (59)
wp.org #6 ↑2 1 too high 8 
Email Log 80K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #13 ↓3 4 too low 10 Check & Log Email – Easy Email Testing & Mail logging 90K+ · 4.8★ (292)
wp.org #18 8 too low 11 
Debug Log Manager – Conveniently Monitor and Inspect Errors 10K+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #11 12 
Log cleaner for Kadence Security 7K+ · 5.0★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑4 2 too high 13 
Simple Login Log 5K+ · 4.5★ (27)
wp.org #9 4 too high 14 
404 to 301 – Redirect Manager, 301 Redirection, 404 Error Logs & 404 Monitoring 100K+ · 4.7★ (321)
wp.org #22 ↓3 8 too low 15 
Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more 500K+ · 4.6★ (709)
wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 
Debug Log Manager Tool 3K+ · 5.0★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #12 4 too high 17 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #21 ↑1 4 too low 18 
Stream – Activity Log & Audit Trail 70K+ · 4.3★ (76)
wp.org #20 ↑1 2 too low 19 
Search & Replace Everything – Quick and Easy Way to Find and Replace Text, Links 20K+ · 4.7★ (26)
wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too high 20 
Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor 400+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 5 too high 21 
Error Log Viewer by BestWebSoft 5K+ · 4.8★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too high 22 
User Activity Tracking and Log 2K+ · 3.5★ (34)
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 Auto Update Post Date 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 9 too high 24 
Debug Log Viewer 1K+ · 4.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑1 5 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.