wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “web analytics”

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 “web analytics”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 4 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

Integrate PostHog Web Analytics shows at wp.org #8 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 14 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

Super Progressive Web Apps places #8 on merit, 4.6★ from 225 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012) wp.org #1 ↑1 2

Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167) wp.org #2 ↑1 3

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #3 ↑19 4

Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #5 1 too low 5

MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 ↓3 1 too high 6

GA Google Analytics – Connect Google Analytics to WordPress 400K+ · 4.9★ (158) wp.org #6 ↓2 7

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #11 ↓2 4 too low 8

Super Progressive Web Apps 40K+ · 4.6★ (225) wp.org #13 ↓2 5 too low 9

Web-Stat – Live Visitor Analytics 5K+ · 4.4★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #7 ↓2 2 too high 10

Plausible Analytics 10K+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too low 11

Analytics Insights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (34) not PHP-current wp.org #10 ↓2 1 too high 12

Clicky Analytics 10K+ · 4.5★ (25) not PHP-current wp.org #9 ↓2 3 too high 13

OneSignal – Web Push Notifications 60K+ · 4.3★ (360) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #20 ↓2 7 too low 14

Connect Matomo – Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (95) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too low 15

BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 2 too low 16

Web Push Notifications – Webpushr 10K+ · 4.7★ (63) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17

Matomo Analytics – Powerful, Privacy-First Insights for WordPress 100K+ · 4.6★ (178) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 ↓5 7 too low 18

ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) 200K+ · 2.5★ (1546) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #22 ↓7 4 too low 19

Goolytics – Simple Google Analytics 3K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 4 too low 20

Catch Web Tools 10K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓2 5 too high 21

Hitsteps Web Analytics 700+ · 3.9★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓2 7 too high 22

Integrate PostHog Web Analytics 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓2 14 too high 23

ShinyStat Analytics 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓3 4 too high 24

Web Worker Offloading 10K+ · 3.5★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.