wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wordpress tab plugin jquery”
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 tab plugin jquery”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 4 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
Responsive Tabs — Horizontal, Vertical & Accordion Tabs for WordPress shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 423 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #1 2 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #2 3 
FancyBox for WordPress 30K+ · 4.6★ (92)
wp.org #3 4 
Plugin Organizer 10K+ · 4.7★ (227) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #11 6 too low 6 
jQuery Smooth Scroll 10K+ · 4.5★ (47)
wp.org #6 7 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #13 6 too low 8 
Lightbox & Modal Popup WordPress Plugin – FooBox 100K+ · 3.9★ (95)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Gutena Tabs 6K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #4 5 too high 10 
FooGallery Photo Gallery : Image, Video & Masonry Galleries 100K+ · 4.8★ (995) not PHP-current
wp.org #18 8 too low 11 Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #23 12 too low 12 
CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 
Plugin Groups 1K+ · 4.3★ (31) not PHP-current
wp.org #8 5 too high 14 
External Links in New Window / New Tab 30K+ · 4.5★ (77)
wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too low 15 
Simple Shopping Cart 10K+ · 4.6★ (215)
wp.org #24 9 too low 16 
MxChat – AI Chatbot & Content Generation for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (31) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 6 too high 17 
Plugin Report 1K+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #12 5 too high 18 
Quiz Cat – WordPress Quiz Plugin 4K+ · 4.7★ (35)
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 Responsive Tabs — Horizontal, Vertical & Accordion Tabs for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #7 12 too high 20 
Sliced Invoices – WordPress Invoice Plugin 4K+ · 4.6★ (117) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 21 
jQuery Post Splitter 100+ · 4.6★ (37)
wp.org #21 22 
WPB Custom Tab Manager for WooCommerce – Add, Edit & Reorder Tabs 500+ · 4.5★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 8 too high 23 
Accordions – Responsive Accordion & FAQ Plugin for WordPress 1K+ · 4.6★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 
Tab Ultimate 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↑1 8 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.