# WordPress.org API: Search plugins

> Searches the WordPress.org plugin directory by description and returns matches in directory search order, with ratings, installations, compatibility and plugin page links.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by WordPress.org.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/wordpress.org/search-plugins
- Method: `wordpress.org/search_plugins`, version 1
- Website: wordpress.org
- Returns: name, author, rating, rating count, active installations, last updated, tested WordPress version, plugin page link, slug
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `query` | string | yes | `"image optimization"` | Describe what the plugin should do, for example contact form. |
| `max_results` | integer | no | `35` | Most plugins to return, for example 20 (up to 100). Default 20. |

## Output

From a run on Oct 23, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "query": "image optimization",
  "max_results": 35
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "plugins": [
    {
      "name": "Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN",
      "slug": "wp-smushit",
      "author": "WPMU DEV - Your All-in-One WordPress Platform",
      "rating": 4.8,
      "last_updated": "2026-10-20",
      "tested_up_to": "7.1.3",
      "plugin_page_link": "https://wordpress.org/plugins/wp-smushit/",
      "number_of_ratings": 6053,
      "active_installations": 1000000
    },
    {
      "name": "Imagify Image Optimization: Optimize Images | Compress & Convert to WebP/AVIF",
      "slug": "imagify",
      "author": "WP Media",
      "rating": 4.3,
      "last_updated": "2026-09-07",
      "tested_up_to": "7.1.3",
      "plugin_page_link": "https://wordpress.org/plugins/imagify/",
      "number_of_ratings": 1657,
      "active_installations": 1000000
    },
    {
      "name": "LiteSpeed Cache",
      "slug": "litespeed-cache",
      "author": "LiteSpeed Technologies",
      "rating": 4.8,
      "last_updated": "2026-10-20",
      "tested_up_to": "7.1.3",
      "plugin_page_link": "https://wordpress.org/plugins/litespeed-cache/",
      "number_of_ratings": 2777,
      "active_installations": 7000000
    }
  ]
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"wordpress.org/search_plugins","input":{"query":"image optimization","max_results":35}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- Find WordPress plugins that add a contact form, show me the top 10 with their ratings and active installs
- I need a plugin to create image galleries on a WordPress site, list up to 25 options
- Search the WordPress plugin directory for caching plugins that speed up page loads, limit to 15 results
- Which plugins on wordpress.org handle SEO meta descriptions and sitemaps? Give me 20 matches
- Look up plugins that let visitors book appointments through a calendar, max 8 results

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "query"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "query": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Describe what the plugin should do, for example contact form."
    },
    "max_results": {
      "type": "integer",
      "default": 20,
      "maximum": 100,
      "minimum": 1,
      "description": "Most plugins to return, for example 20 (up to 100)."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "plugins"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "plugins": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "required": [
          "name",
          "author",
          "rating",
          "number_of_ratings",
          "active_installations",
          "last_updated",
          "tested_up_to",
          "plugin_page_link",
          "slug"
        ],
        "properties": {
          "name": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Plugin name."
          },
          "slug": {
            "type": "string",
            "description": "Directory plugin slug."
          },
          "author": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Plugin author."
          },
          "rating": {
            "type": [
              "number",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Average rating out of 5 stars."
          },
          "last_updated": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "format": "date",
            "description": "Date the plugin was last updated."
          },
          "tested_up_to": {
            "type": [
              "string",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "WordPress version the plugin was tested up to."
          },
          "plugin_page_link": {
            "type": "string",
            "format": "uri",
            "description": "WordPress.org plugin page."
          },
          "number_of_ratings": {
            "type": [
              "integer",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Number of submitted ratings."
          },
          "active_installations": {
            "type": [
              "integer",
              "null"
            ],
            "description": "Reported active installations."
          }
        },
        "additionalProperties": false
      },
      "description": "Plugins in directory search order."
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## See more

- [WordPress.org API: Get WordPress plugin details](https://fous.com/methods/wordpress.org/get-plugin.md): Finds the best-matching WordPress.org plugin by name or plugin page link and returns its details, including the changelog for the latest version when one is available.
- [npm API: Search packages](https://fous.com/methods/npmjs.com/search-packages.md): Searches the npm registry for JavaScript packages by description or keywords, in npm's search order, and returns each package's latest version, weekly downloads and publish date.
- [PyPI API: Search packages](https://fous.com/methods/pypi.org/search-packages.md): Searches PyPI by keywords and returns matching packages in relevance order, each with its latest version and that version's release date. Returns up to 100 results.
- [Google API: Search Google Play apps](https://fous.com/methods/play.google.com/search-apps.md): Finds Android apps on Google Play by keywords, in Play search order, with each listing's developer, star rating, price and currency for the chosen country, download range and link. Results are limited to apps shown on the public search page.
- [Google API: Search Chrome extensions](https://fous.com/methods/chromewebstore.google.com/search-extensions.md): Finds Chrome Web Store extensions by keywords in store order, with each listing's developer, users, rating, rating count, short description and store link. Some listings omit developer, users or ratings.
- [Pinterest API: Search pins](https://fous.com/methods/pinterest.com/search-pins.md): Finds Pinterest pins for an idea in search order, with image, creator, board, saves and linked website. Limited to the first public search page.
- [Project Gutenberg API: Search free books](https://fous.com/methods/gutenberg.org/search-free-books.md): Finds free public-domain Project Gutenberg books by title, author or topic, with authors, languages, subjects, recent downloads, and reading and download links. Public-domain status is based on the United States.
- [Wikipedia API: Search articles](https://fous.com/methods/wikipedia.org/search-articles.md): Searches a Wikipedia language edition by keywords and returns matching articles in relevance order, with descriptions, snippets, word counts, last edit dates and links.
- [All WordPress.org methods](https://fous.com/methods/wordpress.org.md)