wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “abandoned forms”
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 “abandoned forms”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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 it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
LukasApps CAPTCHA tools for Contact Form 7 shows at wp.org #6 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.1★ average from 48 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy places #12 on merit, 4.7★ from 591 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5038) heavy footprint
wp.org #1 2 
CartBounty – Save and recover abandoned carts for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (84) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
MailPoet – Newsletters, Email Marketing, and Automation 500K+ · 4.4★ (1435) heavy footprint
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Poptin – Email Marketing Automation, Newsletter & Exit Pop Ups, Email Popups 20K+ · 4.9★ (701)
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #15 9 too low 7 
Email Marketing for WooCommerce by Omnisend 40K+ · 4.9★ (169)
wp.org #12 ↑1 5 too low 8 
Custom Contact Forms 6K+ · 3.5★ (171)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Recarto – Abandoned Cart Recovery for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.5★ (28) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #4 5 too high 10 
Booster for WooCommerce – PDF Invoices, Abandoned Cart, Variation Swatches & 100+ Tools 30K+ · 4.6★ (535) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 1 too low 11 
SMS Alert – SMS Notifications & OTP Login, COD Verification, Abandoned Cart Recovery 3K+ · 4.6★ (35)
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591)
wp.org #22 ↓1 10 too low 13 
Retainful – WooCommerce Abandoned Cart, Newsletters, Email Marketing, Signup Forms and Automation 1K+ · 4.9★ (98) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 3 too high 14 LukasApps CAPTCHA tools for Contact Form 7 100K+ · 4.1★ (48) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 8 too high 15 
GravityExport Lite for Gravity Forms 10K+ · 5.0★ (39)
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 
Charitable – Donation & Fundraising Platform (Donation Forms, Recurring Donations & Fundraising Campaigns) 10K+ · 4.9★ (219) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #14 ↑5 2 too high 17 
Brevo – Email, SMS, Web Push, Chat, and more. 100K+ · 4.1★ (284)
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 
WP User Manager – Registration Form, Login Form, User Profile Builder & Member Directory 10K+ · 4.7★ (350) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 
MWB HubSpot for WooCommerce – CRM, Abandoned Cart, Email Marketing, Marketing Automation & Analytics 6K+ · 3.8★ (55)
wp.org #16 ↓2 3 too high 20 
SMS Abandoned Cart Recovery – CartBoss 400+ · 4.9★ (29) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↓1 3 too high 21 
Track Geolocation Of Users Using Contact Form 7 800+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 22 
Freeze | The protection for abandoned websites 80+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #24 2 too low 23 
Hash Form – Drag & Drop Form Builder 3K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too high 24 
ELEX WooCommerce Abandoned Cart Recovery with Dynamic Coupons 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too high 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.