wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “user map”
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 map”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 4 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
GPX Route Map shows at wp.org #10 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Maps Widget for Google Maps places #10 on merit, 4.6★ from 512 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Open User Map – Interactive Leaflet Maps 10K+ · 5.0★ (70)
wp.org #1 2 
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Leaflet Map 30K+ · 4.9★ (58)
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445)
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055) not PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 
Map Block for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too high 7 
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 #8 ↑3 1 too low 8 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #12 ↑2 4 too low 9 
WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #6 ↑1 3 too high 10 Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #21 ↓2 11 too low 11 
ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities 5K+ · 4.6★ (236) not PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↑7 3 too low 12 
WP Data Access – App Builder for Tables, Forms, Dashboards, Charts & Maps 10K+ · 4.9★ (88)
wp.org #16 ↑7 4 too low 13 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #22 ↓2 9 too low 14 
MapPress – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap & Leaflet 30K+ · 4.7★ (147)
wp.org #19 ↓1 5 too low 15 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #9 7 too high 17 
Export and Import Users and Customers 50K+ · 4.8★ (442) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓3 3 too low 18 
Mapster WP Maps 3K+ · 4.9★ (54) heavy footprint
wp.org #18 ↓5 19 
Extensions for Leaflet Map 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↑1 8 too high 20 
Travelers' Map 1K+ · 5.0★ (46) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓7 5 too high 21 
CodePeople Post Map for Google Maps 3K+ · 4.2★ (31) not PHP-current
wp.org #13 ↑2 8 too high 22 
Image Hotspot – Map Image Annotation 3K+ · 4.9★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23 
Tuskcode Map Pro for Bing Maps 600+ · 4.8★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↑1 1 too low 24 GPX Route Map 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #10 14 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.