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

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 “vb”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

iG:Syntax Hiliter shows at wp.org #10 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 30+ 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

Content Visibility for Divi Builder places #6 on merit, 4.8★ from 101 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Code Block Pro – Beautiful Syntax Highlighting 10K+ · 4.8★ (50) wp.org #1 2

Netgsm 1K+ · 4.7★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #2 3

Kargo Takip, Kargo SMS, İlçe Mahalle Sözleşme by Hezarfen 2K+ · 5.0★ (43) wp.org #4 1 too low 4

CodeColorer 1K+ · 4.9★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #3 1 too high 5

Stock Ticker 2K+ · 4.4★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #5 6

Content Visibility for Divi Builder 2K+ · 4.8★ (101) wp.org #17 11 too low 7

Flip Cards Module For Divi 3K+ · 4.9★ (32) wp.org #14 7 too low 8

Payment On Delivery for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.5★ (10) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 7 too low 9

SmartVideo – Video Player and CDN 1K+ · 4.1★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #20 11 too low 10

Shortcodes for Divi 10K+ · 5.0★ (7) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 9 too low 11

Trendyol Entegrasyonu – Brksoft 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 5 too high 12 V VB Sitemap Generator — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #7 5 too high 13 V VB Disable Emojis — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #8 5 too high 14 V VB Popout Banner — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 5 too high 15

Geliver Akıllı Kargo Pazaryeri 400+ · 4.3★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #18 3 too low 16

Stock Quote 100+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 6 too low 17

Pazarus Pazaryeri Entegrasyonu for WooCommerce 40+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 6 too high 18

WPBetterCodeHighlighting — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 6 too high 19

iG:Syntax Hiliter 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #10 9 too high 20

PreFlight Scanner — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #13 7 too high 21 P Program Output 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 5 too high 22

Yerli Kart Özelleştirme – TR.O.Y. Desteği 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #21 1 too high 23 V Vectoron 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #23 24

WOSSE WooCommerce Sözleşmeleri — · 3.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #24

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.