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

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 frontpage”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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

FrontPage Buddy – Custom landing pages for members, groups and profiles shows at wp.org #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 30+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

MaxButtons – Create buttons places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 1093 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 PublishPress Blocks – Block Controls, Block Visibility, Block Permissions 20K+ · 4.7★ (204) wp.org #3 ↑1 2 too low 2 Sitemap by BestWebSoft – WordPress XML Site Map Page Generator Plugin 20K+ · 4.3★ (115) wp.org #5 ↑1 3 too low 3 AMP for WP – Accelerated Mobile Pages 70K+ · 4.4★ (1319) wp.org #7 ↑2 4 too low 4 PPWP – Password Protect Pages 30K+ · 4.7★ (271) wp.org #11 ↑1 7 too low 5 A Arile Extra 10K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #1 4 too high 6 Menubar 1K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too high 7 MaxButtons – Create buttons 70K+ · 4.9★ (1093) wp.org #16 9 too low 8 Options for Twenty Seventeen 8K+ · 4.8★ (57) wp.org #12 ↑2 4 too low 9 A WP Life Companion 6K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #2 7 too high 10 VRTs – Visual Regression Tests 800+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #15 5 too low 11 Slash Admin 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #20 9 too low 12 CPS | Age Verification 800+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #14 ↑3 2 too low 13 W WPFrank Companion 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↑1 7 too high 14 Front Page Scheduler 200+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #13 1 too high 15 Post List Designer – Category Post, Recent Post, Post List 1K+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #21 ↑2 6 too low 16 Frontpage Slider 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 8 too high 17 Lucky Wheel Giveaway 400+ · 3.9★ (8) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 SX No Homepage Pagination 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 D Daddy Plus 8K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 ↑2 10 too high 20 Avantex Companion 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↑2 3 too high 21 FrontPage Buddy – Custom landing pages for members, groups and profiles 30+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #10 11 too high 22 A Arile Super 3K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 WIP Incoming Lite 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 24 Specia Companion 4K+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↑2 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.