wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “url widget”
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 “url widget”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
Basic URL ShortCodes shows at wp.org #9 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 4K+ 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
Translate WordPress with GTranslate places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 4962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #1 2 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Featured Image from URL (FIFU) 60K+ · 4.6★ (264)
wp.org #3 ↓1 4 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #4 5 
URL Shortify – Simple and Easy URL Shortener 10K+ · 4.7★ (169)
wp.org #5 6 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too low 8 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #8 9 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #12 ↑4 3 too low 10 
PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322)
wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too low 11 Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #16 ↓2 5 too low 12 
Widget Context 30K+ · 4.5★ (98) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 6 too high 13 
Black Studio TinyMCE Widget 200K+ · 4.8★ (191)
wp.org #13 14 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #19 ↓1 5 too low 15 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #17 ↑4 2 too low 16 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #23 ↓4 7 too low 17 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #21 ↑1 4 too low 18 
Image Widget 100K+ · 4.9★ (287)
wp.org #22 ↑1 4 too low 19 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block 50K+ · 4.3★ (51)
wp.org #15 5 too high 21 
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↑1 11 too high 22 
Go Live Update Urls 90K+ · 4.5★ (59)
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Tagembed: Social Media Feeds and Customer Reviews Widget 9K+ · 3.9★ (62)
wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too high 24 B Basic URL ShortCodes 4K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #9 15 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.