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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “utf8”

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 “utf8”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

JSM file_get_contents() Shortcode shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging places #8 on merit, 4.6★ from 820 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Prime Mover – Backup and Migration 10K+ · 5.0★ (141) wp.org #1 2 Media File Renamer: Rename Images & Files for SEO (AI-Powered) 40K+ · 4.6★ (447) wp.org #2 3 D Database Collation Fix 1K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #3 4 Leaflet Maps Marker (Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Bing Maps) 9K+ · 4.6★ (244) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 SpeakOut! Email Petitions 2K+ · 4.8★ (43) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 Query Monitor 200K+ · 4.9★ (470) wp.org #16 ↓1 10 too low 7 Search Regex 100K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #13 6 too low 8 3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging 100K+ · 4.6★ (820) wp.org #20 ↓1 12 too low 9 Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter 70K+ · 4.8★ (266) wp.org #18 ↑2 9 too low 10 Secondary Title 7K+ · 4.9★ (72) wp.org #15 ↑1 5 too low 11 WP Popups – WordPress Popup builder 30K+ · 4.9★ (112) wp.org #22 ↓1 11 too low 12 Enable Media Replace 600K+ · 4.4★ (302) wp.org #21 ↑2 9 too low 13 Stylish Price List – Price Table Builder & QR Code Restaurant Menu 3K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #23 ↓1 10 too low 14 Cache Enabler 100K+ · 4.3★ (139) wp.org #24 10 too low 15 LightMoving UTF8MB4 Converter 10+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 10 too high 16 Auto Featured Image (Auto Generated) 200+ · 3.6★ (7) wp.org #7 9 too high 17 Fraktjakt WooCommerce Shipping 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 Database for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 4.2★ (14) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 JSM file_get_contents() Shortcode 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 15 too high 20 W WP-UTF8-Excerpt 700+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 6 too high 21 Email Essentials 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 10 too high 22 Pexalvo Side Cart — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 10 too high 23 Turbopress Database Diagnostics — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 6 too high 24 SEUR Oficial 1K+ · 1.0★ (2) 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.