wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “website 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 “website analytics”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Beehive Analytics – Google Analytics Dashboard shows at wp.org #7 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 13 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
SlimStat Analytics – Real-Time Stats, Heatmaps & Ecommerce places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 816 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157)
wp.org #1 2 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #2 3 
Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167)
wp.org #3 4 
Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408)
wp.org #4 ↑18 5 
Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186)
wp.org #5 ↓1 6 
Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245)
wp.org #6 ↓1 7 
Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7519)
wp.org #11 ↓2 4 too low 8 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #8 ↑4 9 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039)
wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667)
wp.org #15 ↑1 5 too low 11 
Analytics Insights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (34)
wp.org #9 ↓2 2 too high 12 SlimStat Analytics – Real-Time Stats, Heatmaps & Ecommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (816)
wp.org #22 10 too low 13 
ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) 200K+ · 2.5★ (1546)
wp.org #10 ↓2 3 too high 14 Beehive Analytics – Google Analytics Dashboard 20K+ · 4.5★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 7 too high 15 
Plausible Analytics 10K+ · 5.0★ (29)
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too high 16 
Spectra Blocks – AI Website Builder for the Block Editor 60K+ · 4.6★ (53)
wp.org #17 ↓2 1 too low 17 
Search Analytics for WP – Site Search Tracking 3K+ · 5.0★ (30)
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 
TWIPLA – Website Intelligence 800+ · 4.6★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓3 5 too high 19 
Clicky Analytics 10K+ · 4.5★ (25)
wp.org #16 ↓2 3 too high 20 
WEBKINDER Integration for Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #20 21 
HT Easy GA4 – Google Analytics WordPress Plugin 6K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #21 22 
View Post Counter – Website Analytics 100+ · 4.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Simple Analytics 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
ShinyStat Analytics 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #19 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.