These 3 apps lead WordPress Plugin Directory's Reference category as of September 2026 — ranked by user rating, review count, and audit score, refreshed every 24 hours from the canonical WordPress marketplace listing.
Discover the top-rated reference apps available on WordPress Plugin Directory. Rankings based on user ratings, review count, and market performance.
This is the curated shortlist — the top-ranked reference apps. To browse every reference app on WordPress Plugin Directory, see the full Reference category.
This list ranks the top 3 WordPress apps classified under Reference by the source marketplace's own taxonomy — apps appear here only because WordPress Plugin Directory itself tags them in this category, not because of any AppRanks editorial decision. Within the category set, ranking uses a Bayesian-ish blend of average rating × natural log of review count: the formula is rating × ln(reviewCount + 1), so a high-rating-low-review app doesn't leapfrog an established listing on a single 5-star outlier. The blend favors apps that are both well-reviewed AND have an established user base.
AppRanks does not invent a proprietary score for public surfaces — the rank shown mirrors the marketplace's published category position exactly, scraped on a 12-24 hour refresh cycle from the canonical WordPress Plugin Directory listing. The category lookup happens at request time and the page is cached at the edge for 1 hour to absorb traffic spikes; the underlying ranking data refreshes daily so the list stays accurate within one day of any source change. AppRanks does not editorially promote or demote apps based on advertiser or partnership status — the same blend formula applies uniformly across every app on this platform.
Ranks #1 in the WordPress Plugin Directory reference category as a category-leading listing. Currently has an early-stage review volume (5 reviews). Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Footnotes & Content holds a 5.0-star average across 5 reviews in the reference category.
Same data as the ranked cards, condensed into a sortable-by-eye grid: rating × review depth × pricing tier across the top 3 reference apps on WordPress Plugin Directory.
| # | App | Rating | Reviews | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Footnotes & Content | 5.0★ | 5 | — |
| 2 | Shortcode Reference | 3.4★ | 7 | — |
| 3 | Footnotes Made Easy | 4.6★ | 40 | — |
Want to compare any two apps in detail (features, ratings trend, pricing plans side-by-side)? Open the head-to-head page from the "Compare to #N" link on each card above. Custom multi-app comparisons, historical rank trajectory, and CSV export are available on a paid plan.
Paid plans unlock watchlists, multi-category comparisons, CSV export, and a full historical rank trajectory across every app on this list. The list itself stays free to read.
Start Free TrialRanks #2 in the WordPress Plugin Directory reference category as a mixed-rating listing. An early-stage review volume (7 reviews) with a no-rating average. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you want an emerging reference option — Shortcode Reference ranks #2 on WordPress Plugin Directory and is still building review depth.
Ranks #3 in the WordPress Plugin Directory reference category as a highly rated listing. Tracks at no-rating across 40 reviews — early-stage review volume. Position holds for the trailing 30-day window.
Pick if: Pick this if you prioritize merchant satisfaction over scale — Footnotes Made Easy holds a 4.6-star average across 40 reviews in the reference category.
Methodology details: /glossary/audit-score · /about.