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

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 “achievements”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 3 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

GamiPress – Emails By Type shows at wp.org #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution places #9 on merit, 4.4★ from 590 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Timeline Widget For Elementor (Elementor Timeline, Vertical & Horizontal Timeline) 70K+ · 4.8★ (248) wp.org #1 ↑2 2 GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051) wp.org #5 ↑3 2 too low 4 Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred 10K+ · 4.6★ (472) wp.org #4 ↓3 5 Cool Timeline (Horizontal & Vertical Timeline) 20K+ · 4.7★ (333) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #9 ↓2 3 too low 7 Achievements sports league 100+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #2 5 too high 8 Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #14 ↑5 6 too low 9 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #17 ↓7 8 too low 10 JoomSport – for Sports: Team & League, Football, Hockey & more 1K+ · 4.9★ (44) wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too low 11 MyRewards 2K+ · 4.7★ (58) wp.org #15 ↑1 4 too low 12 Loyalty Points Rewards and Referral for WooCommerce – WPLoyalty 3K+ · 5.0★ (310) wp.org #18 6 too low 13 Timeline Block – tell your story with elegant timelines 3K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #7 ↓1 6 too high 14 Vertical Timeline Widget for Elementor 10K+ · 4.8★ (26) wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too high 15 Timeline Module for Divi 3K+ · 4.8★ (9) wp.org #8 ↑1 7 too high 16 Post Timeline 700+ · 4.2★ (21) wp.org #20 ↑1 4 too low 17 Timeline Block For Gutenberg 9K+ · 4.4★ (11) wp.org #12 ↑1 5 too high 18 Timeline Module for Beaver Builder 2K+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 Counter Box – Add Countdowns, Timers & Dynamic Counters to WordPress 1K+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #24 5 too low 20 Timeline – Tell Your Story Through Events and Milestones 2K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #16 ↑1 4 too high 21 GamiPress – Emails By Type 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↑1 11 too high 22 Cards Layout – showcase content in responsive card grids 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too high 23 YITH WooCommerce Popup 2K+ · 2.4★ (11) wp.org #19 ↑3 4 too high 24 Classic Addons – WPBakery Page Builder 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↑2 2 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.