wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wp search”
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 search”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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 Search with Algolia shows at wp.org #6 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 24 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #1 2 
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #2 3 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8709)
wp.org #3 4 
WP Fastest Cache – WordPress Cache Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4229)
wp.org #4 ↑2 5 
Better Search Replace 1M+ · 4.3★ (546)
wp.org #5 6 
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 
WP Super Cache 1M+ · 4.3★ (1346)
wp.org #7 ↑1 8 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758)
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 
Search Exclude 50K+ · 4.8★ (218)
wp.org #11 ↑5 1 too low 11 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667)
wp.org #15 ↑3 3 too low 13 
FiboSearch – Ajax Search for WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.9★ (1815)
wp.org #21 ↑2 8 too low 14 
WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184)
wp.org #13 ↑4 1 too high 15 WP Search with Algolia 7K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑7 9 too high 16 
Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406)
wp.org #16 ↑3 17 
Ivory Search – WordPress Search Plugin 90K+ · 4.9★ (1562)
wp.org #24 ↓9 7 too low 18 
Search Regex 100K+ · 4.7★ (101)
wp.org #14 ↓3 4 too high 19 
Ajax Search Lite – Live Search & Filter 70K+ · 4.8★ (266)
wp.org #18 1 too high 20 
WP Reset 300K+ · 4.8★ (1014)
wp.org #22 ↑2 2 too low 21 
WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490)
wp.org #20 ↓6 1 too high 22 
WP Mail Logging 300K+ · 4.7★ (375)
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
WP Accessibility 60K+ · 4.8★ (68)
wp.org #17 ↑5 6 too high 24 
WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167)
wp.org #19 ↑2 5 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.