wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “960”

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 “960”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 6 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Processing Projects shows at wp.org #16 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #1 2

Matterport Shortcode 3K+ · 5.0★ (9) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Easy Responsive Test 10+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #2 1 too high 4

MyParcel 8K+ · 3.9★ (48) wp.org #8 4 too low 5

WP-KaTeX 700+ · 4.6★ (11) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 16 too low 6

MultiSafepay plugin for WooCommerce 3K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #7 1 too low 7

Collect Browser Info — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #4 3 too high 8

Nexora Media – Image Optimization — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 2 too high 9

Doozly Affiliate Box for Amazon 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #5 4 too high 10

Stockaro Connect — Barcode Scanner for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 1 too high 11 W Wiwi Forms – Form Builder 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 1 too high 12 G Genesis Simple Page Sections 300+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 3 too low 13 P Product Rotate 360 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 2 too high 14

Loque AI buscar IA — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 2 too high 15

Cabintale Booking Calendar — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #13 2 too high 16

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.