wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “widget options”
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 options”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget shows at wp.org #13 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 900+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 10 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 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.
Widget Options – Advanced Conditional Visibility for Gutenberg Blocks & Classic Widgets 100K+ · 4.9★ (1516)
wp.org #1 2 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #2 3 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 4 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #4 5 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #5 6 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #9 ↑2 3 too low 7 
Recent Posts Widget With Thumbnails 100K+ · 4.8★ (215)
wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 
Widgets for Social Photo Feed 10K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #6 ↑4 2 too high 9 
Options for Twenty Twenty-One 6K+ · 4.9★ (64)
wp.org #10 ↓2 1 too low 10 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #12 2 too low 11 
Widget Context 30K+ · 4.5★ (98) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓1 4 too high 12 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #22 ↑1 10 too low 13 
Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528)
wp.org #18 ↑3 5 too low 14 
Black Studio TinyMCE Widget 200K+ · 4.8★ (191)
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Maps Widget for Google Maps 20K+ · 4.6★ (512)
wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too low 16 
Options for Twenty Seventeen 8K+ · 4.8★ (57)
wp.org #11 ↓2 5 too high 17 
Timeline Widget For Elementor (Elementor Timeline, Vertical & Horizontal Timeline) 70K+ · 4.8★ (248)
wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too low 18 
AccessiYes Accessibility Widget for ADA, EAA & WCAG Readiness 20K+ · 4.8★ (36)
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #24 5 too low 20 
WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block 50K+ · 4.3★ (51)
wp.org #17 3 too high 21 
Options for Twenty Twenty 3K+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #16 5 too high 22 GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #13 9 too high 23 
Tagembed: Social Media Feeds and Customer Reviews Widget 9K+ · 3.9★ (62)
wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24 
List Custom Taxonomy Widget 8K+ · 4.7★ (21) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 1 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.