wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wordpress database”

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 “wordpress database”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

CodingBunny Database Cleaner shows at wp.org #18 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962) wp.org #1 ↑1 2

BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current wp.org #2 ↑2 3

Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962) wp.org #5 ↓4 2 too low 4

Database Cleaner: Cleanup, Optimization & Repair 10K+ · 5.0★ (150) wp.org #4 ↓1 5

Database Reset 10K+ · 4.5★ (77) wp.org #3 ↑2 2 too high 6

UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706) wp.org #6 7

WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #7 8

Optimize Database after Deleting Revisions 60K+ · 4.7★ (181) wp.org #8 9

Database Addon for Contact Form 7 – CFDB7 600K+ · 5.0★ (1875) wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10

Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #10 ↑5 11

Database Addon For WPForms ( wpforms entries ) – WPFormsDB 20K+ · 5.0★ (131) wp.org #11 ↓1 12

WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4228) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too low 13

Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 4 too high 14

WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #17 ↑1 3 too low 15

WP Database Backup – Unlimited Database & Files Backup by Backup for WP 20K+ · 4.5★ (102) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16

WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (195) wp.org #21 5 too low 17

Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167) wp.org #22 ↑2 5 too low 18

Database Backup for WordPress 60K+ · 4.5★ (66) wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too high 19

FancyBox for WordPress 30K+ · 4.6★ (92) wp.org #23 4 too low 20 S SQLite Database Integration 5K+ · 4.6★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #16 4 too high 21

CF7 Apps – Addons for Contact Form 7 (Honeypot, Database, Redirection, Webhook, etc.) 300K+ · 3.8★ (135) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 ↓5 3 too low 22

Database for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 4.2★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too high 23

Slugs Manager: Delete Old Permalinks from WordPress Database 3K+ · 4.2★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #20 3 too high 24

CodingBunny Database Cleaner 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑4 6 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.