wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “widget slider”
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 slider”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Widgets for Social Photo Feed shows at wp.org #13 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.7★ average from 28 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider 500K+ · 4.6★ (743)
wp.org #1 2 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #2 3 
Smart Slider 3 800K+ · 4.9★ (1125)
wp.org #3 4 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #4 5 
ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051)
wp.org #5 6 
Premium Addons for Elementor – AI-Ready Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 600K+ · 4.9★ (1680)
wp.org #6 7 
Rich Showcase for Google Reviews 100K+ · 4.9★ (1623)
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 
Master Slider – Responsive Touch Slider 60K+ · 4.6★ (504) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 9 
Depicter — Popup & Slider Builder 70K+ · 4.6★ (235) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 
Prime Slider – Hero Slider, Carousel, WooCommerce & Post Slider Elementor Addons 100K+ · 4.5★ (82)
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 
Ultimate Responsive Image Slider 30K+ · 4.5★ (248)
wp.org #14 ↑10 3 too low 12 
Testimonial – Testimonial Slider and Showcase Plugin 20K+ · 4.6★ (67)
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
Social Slider Feed – Social Media Feed & Gallery Widgets 10K+ · 3.9★ (127)
wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14 
Robo Gallery – Photo & Image Slider 40K+ · 4.3★ (406)
wp.org #18 ↓2 4 too low 15 
WP Google Review Slider 30K+ · 4.9★ (373) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓3 1 too low 16 
SiteOrigin Widgets Bundle 400K+ · 4.9★ (134)
wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too low 17 Widgets for Social Photo Feed 10K+ · 4.7★ (28)
wp.org #13 ↑2 4 too high 18 
Post Slider and Post Carousel with Post Vertical Scrolling Widget – A Responsive Post Slider 10K+ · 4.7★ (31)
wp.org #15 ↓3 3 too high 19 
Logo Slider – Logo Showcase, Logo Carousel, Logo Gallery and Client Logo Presentation 30K+ · 4.7★ (252) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 ↓2 3 too low 20 
Carousel Slider 30K+ · 4.3★ (160) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓3 3 too high 21 
Product Slider, Product Carousel and Product Grid Gallery for WooCommerce – Reno Product Slider (formerly Product Slider for WooCommerce) 20K+ · 4.7★ (280) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 ↓2 3 too low 22 
WPZOOM Social Feed Widget & Block 50K+ · 4.3★ (51)
wp.org #21 ↓3 1 too high 23 
GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑3 3 too high 24 
HT Slider For Elementor 20K+ · 3.8★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓2 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.