wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “analytics events”

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 “analytics events”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20.

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

Beehive Analytics – Google Analytics Dashboard shows at wp.org #9 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.5★ average from 13 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 413 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 signals wp.org

Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012) wp.org #1 2

Independent Analytics – WordPress Analytics Plugin 100K+ · 4.8★ (167) wp.org #2 3

MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157) wp.org #3 4

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #5 1 too low 5

Burst Statistics – Simple WordPress Analytics (Google Analytics Alternative) 200K+ · 4.9★ (186) wp.org #4 1 too high 6

Koko Analytics – Privacy-Friendly WordPress Analytics 70K+ · 5.0★ (245) wp.org #6 7

WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (758) wp.org #7 8

Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793) wp.org #12 4 too low 9

Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 6K+ · 4.5★ (167) wp.org #8 1 too high 10

Rank Math SEO – AI SEO Tools to Dominate SEO Rankings 4M+ · 4.8★ (7520) wp.org #14 4 too low 11

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) wp.org #17 6 too low 12

Plausible Analytics 10K+ · 5.0★ (29) wp.org #11 1 too high 13

Analytics Insights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (34) wp.org #10 3 too high 14

Lara's Google Analytics (GA4) 8K+ · 4.7★ (122) wp.org #18 4 too low 15

WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249) wp.org #20 5 too low 16

BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) wp.org #19 3 too low 17

Beehive Analytics – Google Analytics Dashboard 20K+ · 4.5★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #9 8 too high 18

ExactMetrics – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Plugin) 200K+ · 2.5★ (1546) wp.org #16 2 too high 19

Google Analytics for WooCommerce 100K+ · 2.8★ (119) wp.org #13 6 too high 20

Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #21 1 too low 21

AWCA – The Great Analytics Insights for Your eStore 2K+ · 4.7★ (23) thin reviews wp.org #23 2 too low 22

UTM Event Tracker and Analytics, UTM Grabber 800+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #15 7 too high 23

HT Easy GA4 – Google Analytics WordPress Plugin 6K+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #22 1 too high 24

Fathom Analytics Conversions 400+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #24

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.