wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “user directory”
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 “user directory”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 of the top 20. 3 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
Dynamic User Directory shows at wp.org #13 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.8★ average from 38 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 3220 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.
Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445)
wp.org #1 2 
Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504)
wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3 
User Frontend – Membership, User Registration, User Profile, User Directory & Content Restriction with Frontend Post Submission 20K+ · 4.1★ (537) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too high 4 
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738)
wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 
User Role Editor 700K+ · 4.5★ (288)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) heavy footprint
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
User Registration & Membership – Free & Paid Memberships, Subscriptions, Content Restriction, User Profile, Custom User Registration & Login Builder 50K+ · 4.8★ (832)
wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too low 8 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 3 too high 9 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #10 1 too low 10 
UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too high 11 
Stop User Enumeration 60K+ · 4.9★ (132)
wp.org #11 ↑5 12 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #23 ↓1 11 too low 13 
Login as User: See the Site as Any User 30K+ · 4.8★ (41)
wp.org #12 ↑5 1 too high 14 
New User Approve 20K+ · 4.3★ (131)
wp.org #14 ↑8 15 
Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121)
wp.org #16 ↓4 1 too low 16 
Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) not PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓1 4 too low 17 
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #18 1 too low 18 
Name Directory 2K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 
Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) not PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↓2 20 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 
Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (96) heavy footprint
wp.org #21 ↓1 22 Dynamic User Directory 1K+ · 4.8★ (38) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↓2 9 too high 23 
Next Active Directory Integration 2K+ · 4.8★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑1 8 too high 24 
ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) throws errorsnot PHP-current
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.