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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “xing”

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 “xing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 5 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

Candy Social Widget shows at wp.org #11 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 200+ 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

Team Members – A WordPress Team Plugin with Gallery, Grid, Carousel, Slider, Table, List, and More places #12 on merit, 4.7★ from 91 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Blog2Social: Social Media Auto Post & Scheduler 40K+ · 4.5★ (2107) wp.org #1 2 Shariff Wrapper 30K+ · 4.9★ (101) wp.org #2 3 Social Media Share Buttons & Social Sharing Icons 100K+ · 4.8★ (5333) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 Social Share Icons & Social Share Buttons 10K+ · 4.9★ (1911) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too high 5 WP Socializer – Simple & Easy Social Media Share Icons 10K+ · 4.5★ (128) wp.org #9 4 too low 6 NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster 20K+ · 3.3★ (617) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Cresta Social Share Counter 2K+ · 4.8★ (55) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 OAuth Single Sign On – SSO (OAuth Client) 6K+ · 4.9★ (327) wp.org #14 ↓1 6 too low 9 Options for Twenty Twenty-One 6K+ · 4.9★ (64) wp.org #10 1 too low 10 Social Share Buttons 1K+ · 4.8★ (28) wp.org #7 3 too high 11 Speed Contact Bar 4K+ · 4.6★ (56) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 Team Members – A WordPress Team Plugin with Gallery, Grid, Carousel, Slider, Table, List, and More 2K+ · 4.7★ (91) wp.org #19 7 too low 13 Contest Gallery – Upload & Vote Photos, Media, Sell with PayPal & Stripe 1K+ · 4.4★ (89) wp.org #20 7 too low 14 Social Divi 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #6 8 too high 15 GS Books Showcase – Display Books in Grid, Slider & More | Library for WordPress 500+ · 4.8★ (42) wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 WP Social Widget 4K+ · 4.7★ (11) wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too high 17 Product XML Feed Manager for WooCommerce – Google Shopping, Social Sites, Skroutz & More 1K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #16 1 too high 18 Solid Testimonials – Testimonial Slider, Video Testimonials & Customer Reviews 1K+ · 4.3★ (35) wp.org #18 19 Minimal Share Buttons 100+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #24 ↓1 5 too low 20 Spexo Addons for Elementor – Elementor Widgets, Mega Menu, Popup Builder, Template Kits and Starter Templates for Elementor 6K+ · 4.8★ (4) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 Candy Social Widget 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #11 10 too high 22 S Social Media Links for Ultimate Member 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 5 too high 23 Eventful for Elementor – Events Showcase for The Events Calendar 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 Social Linkz – Lightweight and fast social media sharing plugin 90+ · 3.5★ (2) wp.org #15 9 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.