wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “windows app”
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 “windows app”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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
Mirror App – Social Gallery Feed shows at wp.org #6 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 70+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) places #12 on merit, 4.9★ from 186 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #1 2 
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
Floating Chat Widget: Contact Chat Icons, Telegram Chat, Line Messenger, WeChat, Email, SMS, Call Button – Chaty 300K+ · 5.0★ (1244)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Chatway Live Chat – AI Chatbot, Customer Support, FAQ & Helpdesk Customer Service & Chat Buttons 30K+ · 5.0★ (775)
wp.org #8 ↓2 3 too low 6 
App for Cloudflare® 1K+ · 4.7★ (14) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 4 too high 7 
Click to Chat – HoliThemes 600K+ · 4.8★ (131)
wp.org #7 ↑1 8 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too low 9 
WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (199)
wp.org #14 5 too low 10 
Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142)
wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too low 11 
Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too high 12 Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186)
wp.org #20 ↑4 8 too low 13 
Photo Gallery, Sliders, Proofing and Themes – NextGEN Gallery 300K+ · 4.3★ (4342) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
Joinchat – Enhanced “click to chat” 700K+ · 4.7★ (189)
wp.org #17 ↓5 3 too low 15 
Call Now Button – The Free Click to Call Button for WordPress 200K+ · 4.8★ (102)
wp.org #18 ↓2 3 too low 16 
FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35)
wp.org #11 ↑2 5 too high 17 
Hyper PWA – Bringing Modern Progressive Web App Experiences 400+ · 4.7★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #10 7 too high 18 
OpenStation – Admin Dashboard Notes, Custom Dashboard, AI Assistant & PWA 1K+ · 5.0★ (23) heavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too low 19 
Simple Chat Button 40K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 
Chatra Live Chat + ChatBot + Cart Saver 2K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓4 3 too low 21 
ReactPress 2K+ · 4.4★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Mirror App – Social Gallery Feed 70+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑1 16 too high 23 
Pinterest for WooCommerce 200K+ · 2.3★ (68) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↑3 8 too high 24 
AI App Onsite 10+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 2 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.