wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “var dump”
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 “var dump”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 5 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
wp-championship shows at wp.org #13 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
BackUpWordPress places #3 on merit, 4.7★ from 1373 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP-DBManager 50K+ · 4.4★ (95)
wp.org #1 2 
Connect Matomo – Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (95) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 2 too low 3 BackUpWordPress 80K+ · 4.7★ (1373) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk
wp.org #12 ↓1 9 too low 4 
WordLift – AI powered SEO – Schema 300+ · 4.4★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 ↓1 4 too low 5 
Sitevorx — · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
Scrutoscope – WordPress Performance Profiler 70+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 4 too high 7 
WP PHP Console 500+ · 4.7★ (19) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 8 too low 8 K Kint PHP Debugger 90+ · 5.0★ (12) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 10 too low 9 
Debug Toolkit 10+ · 5.0★ (13) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 12 too low 10 
Laravel DD for WordPress 1K+ · 5.0★ (7) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 9 too low 11 
Nimble Lead to Cash — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 ↑11 6 too high 12 
Digipacket Backup Toolkit — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓1 6 too high 13 
Yedekalma — Yedek Alma, Geri Yükleme ve Taşıma — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 6 too high 14 
EstudoBiblico Bíblia Digital — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 5 too high 15 
MegaManager Connector 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 4 too high 16 
KL Debug 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 ↓2 6 too high 17 
Bulwarden 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #14 3 too high 18 
Compath Choir Rehearsal — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19 U Urumi Cloner — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too high 20 wp-championship 40+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21 
Real-time Bitcoin Converter 200+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 1 too high 22 W Wp Custom Field Chart 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 V VarDumper 100+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 S Show var_dump 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 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.