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

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 menu”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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

Mantenimiento web shows at wp.org #4 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

LiteSpeed Cache places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. 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 ↑2 2

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #2 ↑3 3

Float menu – awesome floating side menu 30K+ · 4.4★ (41) wp.org #3 ↓1 4

Super Progressive Web Apps 40K+ · 4.6★ (225) wp.org #6 2 too low 5

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #9 4 too low 6

ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051) wp.org #13 ↑1 7 too low 7

LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778) wp.org #15 ↓3 8 too low 8

Web-Stat – Live Visitor Analytics 5K+ · 4.4★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too high 9

Iks Menu – WordPress Category Accordion Menu & FAQs 10K+ · 5.0★ (27) wp.org #8 1 too high 10

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint wp.org #18 ↑1 7 too low 12

Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current wp.org #17 5 too low 13

Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423) wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14

Mantenimiento web 20K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #4 ↓3 10 too high 15

OneSignal – Web Push Notifications 60K+ · 4.3★ (360) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 ↓2 3 too high 16

WPS Menu Exporter 10K+ · 3.7★ (44) wp.org #11 5 too high 17

Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 7 too high 18

Quttera ThreatSign – Web Malware Scanner for WordPress 10K+ · 3.9★ (47) not PHP-current wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19

Podlove Web Player 4K+ · 3.7★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too high 20

SendPulse Free Web Push 500+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓4 21

Web Accessibility (formally known as Ally) – WCAG Scanning, Guided Fixes, Usability Widget 500K+ · 2.9★ (162) wp.org #24 ↓1 3 too low 22

CopySafe Web Protection – Copy Protect Images 800+ · 4.1★ (12) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 23

Web Stories Widgets For Elementor 900+ · 5.0★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓1 24

HT Menu – WordPress Mega Menu Builder for Elementor 3K+ · 2.8★ (9) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓1 5 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.