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.
2M+ installs 4.8★ · 2,111 reviews 0.1y idle Login & Users
Why: 2M+ installs, 4.8★ across 2,111 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
86
target score
3M+ installs 4.8★ · 8,635 reviews 0y idle Backup
Why: 3M+ installs, 4.8★ across 8,635 reviews · actively maintained
82
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 1,497 reviews 0y idle Email & Marketing
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 1M+ installs at 4.8★ · recent reviews still warm
80
target score
800K+ installs 4.7★ · 1,428 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: slipped 2 install tiers in a year · still 800K+ installs at 4.7★
80
target score
900K+ installs 4.9★ · 2,631 reviews 0y idle Admin & Utilities
Why: 900K+ installs, 4.9★ across 2,631 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
79
target score
900K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,538 reviews 0y idle Backup
Why: 900K+ installs, 4.9★ across 1,538 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
79
target score
900K+ installs 4.9★ · 4,950 reviews 0y idle Multilingual
Why: 900K+ installs, 4.9★ across 4,950 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
79
target score
800K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,123 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
400K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,005 reviews 0.1y idle Page Builders
Why: 4.8★ vs 4.5★ for Elementor Website Builder · Elementor Website Builder holds 25x its installs and isn't slipping · losing install tiers
77
target score
600K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,677 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 600K+ installs at 4.9★ · recent reviews still warm
76
target score
300K+ installs 5.0★ · 1,240 reviews 0y idle Chat & Support
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 5.0★ across 1,240 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
300K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,862 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,862 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,247 reviews 0y idle SEO
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,247 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 919 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 919 reviews in an evergreen category
75
target score
500K+ installs 4.9★ · 733 reviews 0.1y 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★ · 1,381 reviews 0y idle Forms
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,381 reviews in an evergreen category
74
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 3,036 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 3,036 reviews in an evergreen category
74
target score
1M+ installs 4.9★ · 2,036 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.9★ across 2,036 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 3,229 reviews 0y idle Privacy & Consent
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 3,229 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.9★ · 4,224 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.9★ across 4,224 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 2,233 reviews 0.3y idle SEO
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 2,233 reviews · actively maintained
73
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 2,607 reviews 0.1y idle Performance
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 2,607 reviews · actively maintained
72
target score
400K+ installs 5.0★ · 1,435 reviews 0.2y idle Security
Why: 400K+ installs, 5.0★ across 1,435 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
72
target score
300K+ installs 4.7★ · 1,113 reviews 0.3y idle Social
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 1,113 reviews in an evergreen category
72
target score
10K+ installs 4.8★ · 56 reviews 0y 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★ · 1,715 reviews 0.1y idle Security
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.7★ across 1,715 reviews · actively maintained
71
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 1,838 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.8★ across 1,838 reviews · actively maintained
71
target score
200K+ installs 4.8★ · 1,075 reviews 0.2y idle Login & Users
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 1,075 reviews in an evergreen category
71
target score
200K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,225 reviews 0.1y idle Analytics
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,225 reviews in an evergreen category
71
target score
100K+ installs 4.6★ · 218 reviews 5.1y idle Uncategorized
Why: 100K+ installs with no release in 5.1y · 2 plugins, none shipping updates · tested only up to WP 5.8.15
71
target score
1M+ installs 4.7★ · 1,655 reviews 0y idle Privacy & Consent
Why: 1M+ installs, 4.7★ across 1,655 reviews · actively maintained
70
target score
700K+ installs 4.8★ · 791 reviews 0y idle Forms
Why: 700K+ installs, 4.8★ across 791 reviews · actively maintained · still climbing install tiers
70
target score
600K+ installs 5.0★ · 4,625 reviews 0y idle Uncategorized
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 600K+ installs at 5.0★
70
target score
300K+ installs 4.8★ · 521 reviews 0y idle Page Builders
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 521 reviews in an evergreen category
70
target score
200K+ installs 4.8★ · 691 reviews 0y idle Chat & Support
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 691 reviews in an evergreen category
70
target score
70K+ installs 4.8★ · 507 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: climbed 2 install tiers in 6 months · 4.8★ across 507 reviews · still at 70K+ installs
70
target score
3M+ installs 4.8★ · 465 reviews 0.3y idle Uncategorized
Why: 3M+ installs, 4.8★ across 465 reviews · actively maintained
69
target score
700K+ installs 4.9★ · 4,504 reviews 0.1y idle Email & Marketing
Why: 700K+ installs, 4.9★ across 4,504 reviews · actively maintained
69
target score
300K+ installs 4.9★ · 488 reviews 0y idle Booking & Events
Why: steady at 300K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 488 reviews in an evergreen category
69
target score
200K+ installs 4.7★ · 2,213 reviews 0.1y idle Page Builders
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 2,213 reviews in an evergreen category
69
target score
800K+ installs 4.7★ · 2,983 reviews 0y idle Multilingual
Why: 800K+ installs, 4.7★ across 2,983 reviews · actively maintained
68
target score
600K+ installs 5.0★ · 1,875 reviews 0y idle Forms
Why: 600K+ installs, 5.0★ across 1,875 reviews · actively maintained
68
target score
900K+ installs 4.4★ · 273 reviews 0.2y 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 5.3y idle Uncategorized
Why: 70K+ installs with no release in 5.3y · single-plugin author · tested only up to WP 5.7.17
67
target score
1M+ installs 4.8★ · 1,481 reviews 0y 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 eCommerce
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 400K+ installs at 4.9★
66
target score
400K+ installs 4.9★ · 5,924 reviews 0.1y idle Blocks
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 400K+ installs at 4.9★
66
target score
200K+ installs 4.7★ · 1,121 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 1,121 reviews in an evergreen category
66
target score
900K+ installs 4.8★ · 3,025 reviews 0y idle Privacy & Consent
Why: slipped 1 install tier in a year · still 900K+ installs at 4.8★ · recent reviews souring
65
target score
200K+ installs 4.9★ · 469 reviews 0.2y idle Performance
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 469 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
200K+ installs 4.9★ · 446 reviews 0.1y 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★ · 638 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: steady at 200K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.7★ across 638 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,814 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,814 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.8★ · 986 reviews 0y idle Media
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 986 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 783 reviews 0.2y 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★ · 1,999 reviews 0.2y idle Media
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,999 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.8★ · 2,464 reviews 0y idle Backup
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.8★ across 2,464 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,651 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,651 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 1,951 reviews 0y idle Performance
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 1,951 reviews in an evergreen category
65
target score
100K+ installs 4.9★ · 703 reviews 0y idle eCommerce
Why: steady at 100K+ installs, no tier moves in a year · 4.9★ across 703 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.