wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “user grid”
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 grid”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Classic Blog Grid shows at wp.org #12 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 4132 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #1 2 
The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265)
wp.org #2 3 
Post Grid 30K+ · 4.3★ (163)
wp.org #3 4 
User Frontend – Membership, User Registration, User Profile, User Directory & Content Restriction with Frontend Post Submission 20K+ · 4.1★ (537)
wp.org #4 ↑5 5 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #5 ↓1 6 
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
Smart Grid-Layout Design for Contact Form 7 10K+ · 4.5★ (72)
wp.org #6 ↑4 1 too high 8 
Image Photo Gallery Final Tiles Grid 20K+ · 4.7★ (353)
wp.org #10 ↓5 2 too low 9 
Product Category Slider & Grid for WooCommerce – Reno Product Category 9K+ · 4.8★ (91)
wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too high 10 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too low 11 
ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities 5K+ · 4.6★ (236)
wp.org #11 ↑5 12 
Responsive Gallery Grid 4K+ · 4.7★ (66)
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too high 13 
Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612)
wp.org #22 ↓4 9 too low 14 
Gallery PhotoBlocks 3K+ · 5.0★ (76)
wp.org #21 ↑1 7 too low 15 
Portfolio Grid – Filterable Gallery, Grid & Slider Showcase 800+ · 4.4★ (33)
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 
Ultimate Post Kit – Elementor Post Grid, Post Carousel, Post Slider & Blog Layout Widgets 30K+ · 4.8★ (58)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
Blog Filter – Post Grid Filter by Category or Tag 7K+ · 4.9★ (81)
wp.org #24 7 too low 18 
User Private Files – Secure File Sharing and Client Portal Plugin 1K+ · 4.4★ (57)
wp.org #19 ↑2 1 too low 19 
Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33)
wp.org #15 ↑5 4 too high 20 
Loop Grid Extender for Elementor – ACF Repeater & Smart Filters 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓2 3 too high 21 
Grid Gallery – for Photo Gallery, Image Gallery & Portfolio 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too high 22 
Fancy Post Grid – Ultimate Post Grid Builder 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too high 23 
Flexi Post Grid 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 7 too high 24 Classic Blog Grid 3K+ · 3.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 12 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.