wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wp less”
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 “wp less”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
WP-ShowHide shows at wp.org #15 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 43 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 3055 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229)
wp.org #1 2 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #2 ↑2 3 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #3 ↑3 1 too high 5 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #5 6 
WP Reset 300K+ · 4.8★ (1014)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
WP All Import – Drag & Drop Import for CSV, XML, Excel & Google Sheets 100K+ · 4.7★ (1966)
wp.org #9 ↑2 2 too low 8 
WP Accessibility 60K+ · 4.8★ (68)
wp.org #6 ↑2 2 too high 9 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323)
wp.org #8 ↑2 1 too high 10 
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too low 11 
WP Chat App 100K+ · 4.9★ (222)
wp.org #10 ↑2 1 too high 12 WP Go Maps – Google Map, OpenStreetMap, Leaflet Map 300K+ · 4.8★ (3055)
wp.org #17 ↓8 5 too low 13 
WP-Members Membership Plugin 50K+ · 4.6★ (272)
wp.org #12 ↑8 1 too high 14 
Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more 500K+ · 4.6★ (709)
wp.org #13 ↑2 1 too high 15 
WP Travel Engine – Tour Booking Plugin – Tour Operator Software 20K+ · 4.9★ (594)
wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too low 16 
Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
WP RSS Aggregator – RSS Import, Feed to Post, Autoblogging, AI Content 40K+ · 4.5★ (565)
wp.org #19 ↓3 2 too low 18 
Modula Image Gallery – Photo Grid & Video Gallery 100K+ · 4.7★ (616)
wp.org #21 ↑1 3 too low 19 
WP Database Backup – Unlimited Database & Files Backup by Backup for WP 20K+ · 4.5★ (102)
wp.org #14 5 too high 20 
WP Responsive Menu 30K+ · 4.3★ (100)
wp.org #16 ↑2 4 too high 21 
WP Review Slider 6K+ · 4.8★ (181)
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88)
wp.org #22 23 WP-ShowHide 9K+ · 4.2★ (43)
wp.org #15 ↑2 8 too high 24 
WP Menu Cart 8K+ · 4.8★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↑1 4 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.