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

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 “verdict”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20.

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

Compromise Scanner for wp2shell shows at wp.org #2 but places #7 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 ActiveLayer Anti-Spam: Spam Protection for Forms & Comments 10K+ · 4.9★ (10) wp.org #1 2 Content Egg – Affiliate Product Importer & Price Comparison 10K+ · 3.9★ (56) wp.org #4 2 too low 3 AffiliateX – Amazon Affiliate Plugin, Product Boxes, Comparison Tables & Affiliate Link Tracking 9K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Identity Verification for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (12) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Media Hygiene: Remove or Delete Unused Images and More! 4K+ · 4.2★ (41) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 PublishPress Checklists: Pre-Publishing Approval Checklist – Validate Post Requirements 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #9 3 too low 7 Compromise Scanner for wp2shell 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 5 too high 8 ClickCease Click Fraud Protection 10K+ · 3.0★ (8) wp.org #3 5 too high 9 Media Sweep – WordPress Media Cleaner 1K+ · 3.8★ (11) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 Yatra – Travel Booking & Tour Operator Software 600+ · 4.7★ (23) wp.org #21 11 too low 11 JHMG AI Editor for Divi 5 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #18 7 too low 12 Segurium – Free Malware Removal & Auto Cleanup for Hacked Websites, Antivirus Scanner, Vulnerability Alerts 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 4 too low 13 CMS ADMINS Security Check Report 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 1 too high 14 Blockenberg — 645 Advanced Gutenberg Blocks, 683 Templates and AI Agent for WordPress Block Editor 1K+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 Media Verdict — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 5 too high 16 Home Affordability Calculator 80+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 5 too high 17 Airworthy – PHP Compatibility & Upgrade Checker 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 4 too high 18 Onsite Link Verdict — Broken Link Checker — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 SpamAnvil – AI Anti-Spam & Comment Spam Protection 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 5 too high 20 TrustSig Security 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 5 too high 21 CompatNav – PHP Upgrade Checker 300+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Reviewer 2 Academic Rejection Stamps & Verdict Widgets — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 Gatekeep – Universal CAPTCHA & Anti-Spam for All Forms & Comments 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 4 too high 24 Libration Accessibility Widget, Checker and Real Code Fixes – WCAG and EAA 20+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.