wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wp register”
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 register”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
WP Consent API shows at wp.org #7 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 200K+ 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.
Buried gem
Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall places #9 on merit, 4.5★ from 373 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. 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★ (8706)
wp.org #1 2 
Wp Social Login and Register Social Counter 70K+ · 4.6★ (67)
wp.org #2 3 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #3 4 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #4 5 
WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146)
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Nextend Social Login and Register 200K+ · 4.9★ (446)
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 
hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88)
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373)
wp.org #13 4 too low 10 
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1440) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 
Bulk Media Register 8K+ · 4.5★ (22) thin reviews
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
WPS Hide Login 2M+ · 4.8★ (2111)
wp.org #16 4 too low 13 
WP-Polls 40K+ · 4.2★ (136)
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
WP-Members Membership Plugin 50K+ · 4.6★ (272)
wp.org #17 3 too low 15 
WP-Sweep 100K+ · 4.7★ (138)
wp.org #15 16 
WP RSS Aggregator – RSS Import, Feed to Post, Autoblogging, AI Content 40K+ · 4.5★ (565)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #22 5 too low 18 
WP-PostRatings 20K+ · 4.4★ (178)
wp.org #18 19 
PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 2 too low 20 
Pie Register – User Registration, Profiles & Content Restriction 1K+ · 4.2★ (222)
wp.org #20 21 
WP Hide & Security Enhancer 50K+ · 4.3★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 2 too high 22 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
WP Register Profile With Shortcode 300+ · 3.5★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #14 9 too high 24 WP Consent API 200K+ · 5.0★ (2) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #7 17 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.