wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “windows xp”

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 xp”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 8 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

HTML Post Editor shows at wp.org #14 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Popup Box – Create Countdown, Coupon, Video, Contact Form Popups 50K+ · 4.6★ (82) wp.org #1 2

Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 1 too low 3

CopySafe Video Protection – Copy Protect Video 100+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #2 1 too high 4

WP-UserAgent 200+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 6 too low 6

Rapls PDF Image Creator – PDF Thumbnails & Featured Images 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #8 2 too low 7

WP Browser/Platform Detection 90+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #5 2 too high 8

System Requirements Check 30+ · 4.5★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #7 1 too high 9

WoPo Paint 70+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 5 too high 10

WoPo Minesweeper 40+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #9 1 too high 11

EasyTree 10+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 2 too low 12

Embedded learning videos and practice material by TEST4U 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 13 W wp-deadorxp 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 4 too low 14

HTML Post Editor 100+ · 3.0★ (3) not PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 9 too high 24 A Advanced User Agent Displayer 10+ · 1.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 9 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.