wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “user manager”
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 manager”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 3 of the top 20. 2 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
Smart User Slug Hider shows at wp.org #7 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.9★ average from 55 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↓1 3 
File Manager 1M+ · 4.6★ (1492)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 
GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155)
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #6 ↑4 1 too low 6 
User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.4★ (112)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too high 7 
Download Manager 100K+ · 4.1★ (1006)
wp.org #9 ↓5 2 too low 8 
Advanced File Manager – Ultimate File Manager for WordPress And Document Library Solution 100K+ · 4.8★ (441)
wp.org #11 ↓2 3 too low 9 
User Switching 200K+ · 4.9★ (238)
wp.org #10 ↓2 1 too low 10 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too high 11 Smart User Slug Hider 2K+ · 4.9★ (55)
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 
WP Job Manager 70K+ · 4.4★ (237)
wp.org #12 ↓1 13 
Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) not PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↑5 2 too low 14 
Permalink Manager Lite 100K+ · 4.8★ (176)
wp.org #14 ↓1 15 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 
Stop User Enumeration 60K+ · 4.9★ (132)
wp.org #16 17 
Checkout Field Manager (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.5★ (784)
wp.org #21 ↓4 4 too low 18 
Header Footer Code Manager 600K+ · 4.9★ (309) not PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓2 1 too high 19 
PublishPress Capabilities: User Role Access Control, Admin Area Permissions 90K+ · 4.7★ (143)
wp.org #22 ↓4 3 too low 20 
Login as User: See the Site as Any User 30K+ · 4.8★ (41)
wp.org #19 ↑3 1 too high 21 
FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #18 ↓4 3 too high 22 
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 #20 2 too high 23 
One User Avatar | User Profile Picture 100K+ · 4.7★ (41)
wp.org #23 ↓2 24 
APCu Manager 10K+ · 4.6★ (20) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 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.