Acquisition scout
Plugins worth approaching about a takeover, classified by deal rationale. An abandoned giant, a climbing indie and an out-resourced underdog are different purchases, so each candidate carries the archetype tags it earns and a fit score against its best one.
A high score isn't a verdict on the plugin, it's a signal that its users deserve a maintainer and its owner might welcome the conversation.
Install-base grab. Abandoned but still widely installed. You buy the user base, not the code.
Rising star. Small but climbing install tiers with strong reviews. Cheap now, momentum included.
Healthy and safe. Big, loved and maintained. Costs more, but the base is proven and stable.
Underdog vs Goliath. Better reviews than a rival many times its size. A rescue play: add resources, take share.
Niche monopoly. Owns a small but real category. Buy the default choice for one job.
Turnaround. Was bigger, now sliding, users still rate it. Salvageable with real maintenance.
Orphaned by a company. A company owns it and clearly moved on. Harder to buy, but the base is huge.
Sleeper. Steady mid-size plugin doing an evergreen job. Quietly reliable, easy to run.
4M+ installs 4.8★ · 8,706 reviews 0y idle Backup
Why: 4M+ installs, 4.8★ across 8,706 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
92
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 1,497 reviews 0.1y idle Email & Marketing
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 1M+ installs at 4.8★ · recent reviews still warm
80
target score
1M+ installs 4.9★ · 2,667 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.9★ across 2,667 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
80
target score
2M+ installs 4.8★ · 2,111 reviews 0.2y idle Login & Users
Why: 2M+ installs, 4.8★ across 2,111 reviews · actively maintained
79
target score
900K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,568 reviews 0y idle Backup
Why: 900K+ installs, 4.9★ across 1,568 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
79
target score
900K+ installs 4.9★ · 4,962 reviews 0y idle Multilingual
Why: 900K+ installs, 4.9★ across 4,962 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
79
target score
800K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,125 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 800K+ installs at 4.8★ · recent reviews still warm
78
target score
900K+ installs 4.7★ · 3,003 reviews 0y idle Multilingual
Why: 900K+ installs, 4.7★ across 3,003 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
76
target score
600K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,680 reviews 0y idle AI
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 600K+ installs at 4.9★ · recent reviews still warm
76
target score
300K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,865 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,865 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,267 reviews 0y idle SEO
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,267 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 926 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 926 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,281 reviews 0y idle AI
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,281 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
800K+ installs 4.8★ · 3,026 reviews 0y idle Privacy & Consent
Why: slipped 2 install tiers in a year · still 800K+ installs at 4.8★ · recent reviews souring
74
target score
500K+ installs 4.9★ · 735 reviews 0.3y idle Blocks
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 500K+ installs at 4.9★ · recent reviews still warm
74
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,387 reviews 0y idle Forms
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,387 reviews in an evergreen category
74
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 3,055 reviews 0.1y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 3,055 reviews in an evergreen category
74
target score
1M+ installs 4.9★ · 2,051 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.9★ across 2,051 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 3,236 reviews 0y idle Privacy & Consent
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 3,236 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.9★ · 4,228 reviews 0.1y idle Performance
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.9★ across 4,228 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 2,233 reviews 0.1y idle SEO
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 2,233 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 2,617 reviews 0.1y idle Performance
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 2,617 reviews · actively maintained
72
target score
800K+ installs 4.8★ · 807 reviews 0y idle Forms
Why: 800K+ installs, 4.8★ across 807 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
72
target score
400K+ installs 5.0★ · 1,471 reviews 0.2y idle Security
Why: 400K+ installs, 5.0★ across 1,471 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
72
target score
300K+ installs 4.7★ · 1,114 reviews 0.4y idle Social
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 1,114 reviews in an evergreen category
72
target score
10K+ installs 4.8★ · 56 reviews 0.1y idle AI
Why: climbed 2 install tiers in 6 months · 4.8★ across 56 reviews · still at 10K+ installs
72
target score
1M+ installs 4.7★ · 1,720 reviews 0y idle Security
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.7★ across 1,720 reviews · actively maintained
71
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 1,842 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 1,842 reviews · actively maintained
71
target score
200K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,077 reviews 0.3y idle Login & Users
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,077 reviews in an evergreen category
71
target score
1M+ installs 4.7★ · 1,668 reviews 0y idle Privacy & Consent
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.7★ across 1,668 reviews · actively maintained
70
target score
800K+ installs 4.7★ · 1,428 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 800K+ installs at 4.7★
70
target score
600K+ installs 4.9★ · 4,514 reviews 0.1y idle Email & Marketing
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 600K+ installs at 4.9★
70
target score
600K+ installs 5.0★ · 4,625 reviews 0.1y idle Uncategorized
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 600K+ installs at 5.0★
70
target score
500K+ installs 4.7★ · 509 reviews 0y idle Forms
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 500K+ installs at 4.7★ · recent reviews still warm
70
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 525 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 525 reviews in an evergreen category
70
target score
200K+ installs 4.8★ · 696 reviews 0y idle Chat & Support
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 696 reviews in an evergreen category
70
target score
3M+ installs 4.8★ · 466 reviews 0.5y idle Uncategorized
Why: 3M+ installs, 4.8★ across 466 reviews · actively maintained
69
target score
300K+ installs 4.9★ · 491 reviews 0y idle Booking & Events
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 491 reviews in an evergreen category
69
target score
600K+ installs 5.0★ · 1,875 reviews 0.1y idle Forms
Why: 600K+ installs, 5.0★ across 1,875 reviews · actively maintained
68
target score
200K+ installs 4.7★ · 2,215 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 2,215 reviews in an evergreen category
68
target score
900K+ installs 4.4★ · 273 reviews 0.1y idle Admin & Utilities
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 900K+ installs at 4.4★ · recent reviews still warm
67
target score
70K+ installs 3.9★ · 68 reviews 5.4y idle Uncategorized
Why: 70K+ installs with no release in 5.4y · single-plugin author · tested only up to WP 5.7.21
67
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 1,488 reviews 0.1y idle Security
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 1M+ installs at 4.8★ · recent reviews souring
66
target score
400K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,056 reviews 0y idle Blocks
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 400K+ installs at 4.9★
66
target score
400K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,005 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 400K+ installs at 4.8★
66
target score
400K+ installs 4.9★ · 5,925 reviews 0y idle Blocks
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 400K+ installs at 4.9★
66
target score
200K+ installs 4.7★ · 1,125 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 1,125 reviews in an evergreen category
66
target score
60K+ installs 4.7★ · 134 reviews 4.1y idle Uncategorized
Why: 60K+ installs with no release in 4.1y · single-plugin author · tested only up to WP 6.0.18
66
target score
200K+ installs 4.9★ · 470 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 470 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
200K+ installs 4.9★ · 446 reviews 0.3y idle Social
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 446 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
200K+ installs 4.7★ · 640 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 640 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,815 reviews 0.1y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,815 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.8★ · 995 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 995 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 783 reviews 0y idle Security
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 783 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 2,003 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 2,003 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,623 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,623 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.8★ · 2,470 reviews 0y idle Backup
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 2,470 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,652 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,652 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,962 reviews 0.2y idle Performance
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,962 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 706 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 706 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
Scored from the tracked catalog: active installs, install-tier momentum from our milestone history, time since the last release and WordPress-version lag, category demand, ratings, and the competitive picture from shared-tag rivals. Companies only appear under "Orphaned by a company"; flagged and closed plugins never appear.