wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wit”
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 “wit”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 11 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
Cargus shows at wp.org #9 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 700+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
MultiParcels Shipping For WooCommerce places #2 on merit, 4.6★ from 62 reviews, but shows at wp.org #7. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WPTerm 4K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #4 3 too low 2 MultiParcels Shipping For WooCommerce 4K+ · 4.6★ (62)
wp.org #7 5 too low 3 
Custom Post Types and Custom Fields creator – WCK 10K+ · 4.7★ (97) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 3 too low 4 
Copy Anything to Clipboard for WordPress – Copy Button, Copy Text & Copy Code 10K+ · 4.5★ (36)
wp.org #10 6 too low 5 
RealPress – Real Estate Plugin 400+ · 0.0★ (0) not PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 4 too high 6 
wp-greet 50+ · 4.9★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 
Simple GDPR 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 
Variation Swatches and Gallery for WooCommerce 40+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #2 6 too high 9 
Custom Scrollbar 2K+ · 4.7★ (7) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too low 10 
Book Preview for WooCommerce 200+ · 3.5★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 7 too high 11 T Total Slider 90+ · 3.6★ (9) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 10 too low 12 M Multisite User Registration Fix — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 4 too high 13 
Post Series Manager 20+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 6 too low 14 A Atlas by Symkind — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 S Search with Algolia Bogo extension — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 
Hello Simpsons Chalkboard Gag 20+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 W WooTcsShipmentMaker 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 4 too high 18 Cargus 700+ · 2.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #9 9 too high 19 
Contact Form 7 OTP SMS Verification 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 1 too high 20 W WP-Gistpen 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 5 too high 21 
Dynamic SVG Icons 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 4 too high 22 
WURFL Image Tailor (WIT) — · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 2 too high 23 C Custom Columns 20+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 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.