wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “widget id”
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 “widget id”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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 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
Show IDs by Echo shows at wp.org #12 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 2K+ 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
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty places #10 on merit, 5.0★ from 1244 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.
Page scroll to id 100K+ · 4.9★ (225) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #3 4 
Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #4 5 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Black Studio TinyMCE Widget 200K+ · 4.8★ (191)
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #14 5 too low 10 Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #18 8 too low 11 
Image Widget 100K+ · 4.9★ (287)
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block 50K+ · 4.3★ (51)
wp.org #9 4 too high 14 
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #6 8 too high 15 
WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144)
wp.org #20 5 too low 16 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Tagembed: Social Media Feeds and Customer Reviews Widget 9K+ · 3.9★ (62)
wp.org #11 6 too high 18 
Content Blocks (Custom Post Widget) 10K+ · 4.9★ (80)
wp.org #22 4 too low 19 
Sticky Chat Widget – Floating Chat Icons, Contact Form, Call, Click to Chat, Email & Message Buttons 10K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
Reviews Widgets for Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp & Recommendations 10K+ · 4.9★ (326) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 3 too low 21 
List Custom Taxonomy Widget 8K+ · 4.7★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #17 4 too high 22 
Add Widget After Content 6K+ · 4.7★ (38)
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Statify Widget 4K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too high 24 Show IDs by Echo 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 12 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.