wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wordpress multiuser”
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 multiuser”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 6 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
Ultimate Post Review shows at wp.org #16 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Booking Calendar 40K+ · 4.8★ (657)
wp.org #1 2 W WP Customer Reviews 20K+ · 4.3★ (528)
wp.org #2 3 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3220)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Author Avatars List/Block 4K+ · 4.8★ (32)
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 T Trackserver 400+ · 5.0★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
BuddyPress Registration Groups 100+ · 4.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
Croquet Metaverse Web Showcase 40+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
yubikey-plugin 300+ · 3.8★ (9) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Contasimple 200+ · 4.0★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 11 
GTI Factura 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 4 too high 12 
dpabadbotwp 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Digitalsignagepress Lite 30+ · 2.2★ (9) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 5 too low 14 
Ultimate Post Recipe — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 
Ultimate Row Gradient Light 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 4 too high 16 A Akismet Credit Inserter 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 1 too high 17 
Admin Footer Version (rebranded) 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 
LH Assign Role On Logon — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #24 6 too low 19 A Activate Update Services 200+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #22 3 too low 20 W WPMU Plugin Stats 10+ · 3.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 3 too high 21 A aitch ref! 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #23 2 too low 22 
WP Mail 700+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 3 too high 23 Ultimate Post Review 20+ · 2.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too high 24 K Kaltura All-in-One Video Plugin for WordPress 100+ · 1.1★ (10) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 3 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.