wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “wp slimstat”
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 slimstat”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 18. 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
Post Pay Counter – WP-Slimstat visits shows at wp.org #4 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 50+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Inactive Logout places #3 on merit, 4.8★ from 106 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
SlimStat Analytics – Real-Time Stats, Heatmaps & Ecommerce 70K+ · 4.8★ (816) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245)
wp.org #2 3 Inactive Logout 10K+ · 4.8★ (106)
wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too low 4 
PhastPress 10K+ · 4.9★ (99)
wp.org #9 ↓1 5 too low 5 
Sliced Invoices – WordPress Invoice Plugin 4K+ · 4.6★ (117) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 5 too low 6 
Vireo Analytics – Cookieless WordPress Stats & Google Analytics Alternative 20+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
Post Pay Counter 1K+ · 4.8★ (46) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 4 too low 8 
Reactflow Visitor Recording and Heatmaps 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 5 too high 9 
Wordapp 300+ · 4.5★ (8) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too low 10 
ExtraWatch PRO (Live Stats, Heatmap, Click tracking, Download Monitor and more) 20+ · 4.0★ (12) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 6 too low 11 P Post Pay Counter – WP-Slimstat visits 50+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked
wp.org #4 7 too high 12 
Warder Cookie Consent – GDPR Cookie Banner 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↑3 6 too high 13 
ExtraWatch (Live Stats, Realtime tracking, Visits on a map and more) 100+ · 3.4★ (7) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 
Omea Analytics — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 7 too high 15 
WPCreatix ViewMeter – WordPress Visitor Counter — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 3 too high 16 
OG Analytics — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too high 17 C Cloud-O-Google Queries 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 
ExtraWatch LIVE! (Live Stats, Heatmap, Click tracking, SEO Reports and more) 10+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 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.