wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “web search”
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 search”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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
Catch Web Tools shows at wp.org #9 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 3220 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #1 2 
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter 70K+ · 4.8★ (266)
wp.org #2 3 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #3 ↑7 1 too high 5 
Super Page Cache – Cloudflare Cache, Page Speed & Core Web Vitals 70K+ · 4.8★ (517)
wp.org #5 6 
Super Progressive Web Apps 40K+ · 4.6★ (225)
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #15 ↓1 8 too low 8 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #18 ↓1 9 too low 10 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 
Web-Stat – Live Visitor Analytics 5K+ · 4.4★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓2 5 too high 12 
W3 Total Cache 900K+ · 4.4★ (5420)
wp.org #21 ↑2 9 too low 13 
OneSignal – Web Push Notifications 60K+ · 4.3★ (360) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #22 8 too low 15 
All in One SEO – AI SEO Plugin to Boost SEO Rankings & Traffic (Schema, Local SEO, Sitemap & SEO Insights) 2M+ · 4.7★ (5231) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #20 ↓1 5 too low 16 
Jetpack Search 5K+ · 4.5★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 8 too high 17 
Super Web Share – Native Social Sharing Button 2K+ · 4.9★ (29)
wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too high 18 
Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 8 too high 19 
Web Stories 60K+ · 4.2★ (87)
wp.org #23 ↓2 4 too low 20 
Bangla Web Fonts 2K+ · 4.8★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too high 21 Catch Web Tools 10K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 
Podlove Web Player 4K+ · 3.7★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23 
iZooto – Web Push Notifications 900+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
Search Engine Insights for Google Search Console 2K+ · 4.0★ (4) not PHP-current 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.