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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “utm generator”

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 “utm generator”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 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

CartLink Generator for WooCommerce — Direct Checkout & Share Cart Links shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 100+ 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

Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline) places #6 on merit, 4.7★ from 333 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195) wp.org #1 2 Privacy Policy Generator, Terms & Conditions, GDPR, CCPA, Cookie Policy & Disclaimer Templates – WPLP Legal Pages 10K+ · 4.7★ (93) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 BetterLinks – Link Shortener, Link Cloaking, Redirects, Affiliate Link Manager & MCP 20K+ · 4.8★ (85) wp.org #7 ↑1 4 too low 4 Super Progressive Web Apps 40K+ · 4.6★ (225) wp.org #10 6 too low 5 Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.5★ (355) wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too low 6 Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline) 20K+ · 4.7★ (333) wp.org #19 ↓2 13 too low 7 If-So Dynamic Content – Elementor & All Page Builders Personalization 7K+ · 4.7★ (92) wp.org #16 ↓2 9 too low 8 Jetpack Social 30K+ · 3.3★ (74) wp.org #9 1 too low 9 BaseCloud UTM Tracker 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 7 too high 10 LLMagnet – AI Visibility & AI SEO for Claude, ChatGPT & More 600+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #6 4 too high 11 Product Feed for Google Shopping, Microsoft Advertising and 40+ Channels for WooCommerce Merchant 2K+ · 4.8★ (87) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 TrueAna – True Analytics Dashboard 1K+ · 5.0★ (30) wp.org #20 ↓4 8 too low 13 Hyper PWA – Bringing Modern Progressive Web App Experiences 400+ · 4.7★ (12) wp.org #17 ↑1 4 too low 14 UTM Tracker for Gravity Forms 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 11 too high 15 FormsCRM – Connect Forms to CRM directly 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #13 ↓2 2 too high 16 WPZOOM Forms – Drag & Drop Contact Form Builder for WordPress 10K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #11 ↑2 5 too high 17 Prime SEO – AI SEO, LLMs.txt Generator, AI Bots Manager & AI Crawler Stats 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 5 too high 18 WP MyLinks 1K+ · 4.0★ (14) wp.org #24 ↓3 6 too low 19 CartLink Generator for WooCommerce — Direct Checkout & Share Cart Links 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 15 too high 20 OpptiAI Alt Text – AI Alt Text Generator for Image SEO 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 5 too high 21 Usercentrics Privacy Policy Generator 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓3 3 too high 22 AutoArticle Content Generator 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23 Sunshine UTM Builder — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Watso – Basic Help Chat Button 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 ↓3 1 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.