wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “android client”

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 “android client”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 7 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

SimplyBook.me – Booking and reservations calendar shows at wp.org #6 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 18 places. Its 30K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Slider by Soliloquy – Responsive Image Slider for WordPress places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 1025 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #1 2

Jetpack – AI Agents & MCP, Security, Backup & Analytics 3M+ · 3.7★ (2408) wp.org #2 ↑3 3

AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4

WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #11 ↓2 7 too low 5

WooPayments: Integrated WooCommerce Payments 800K+ · 3.4★ (177) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement wp.org #3 ↓1 2 too high 6

Download Manager 100K+ · 4.1★ (1006) wp.org #12 ↓2 6 too low 7

Oliver POS – WooCommerce POS for iPhone, iPad & Android 700+ · 4.2★ (90) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9

Portfolio Filter Gallery – Photo Gallery 20K+ · 4.8★ (348) wp.org #15 ↓2 6 too low 10

Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #14 4 too low 11

Slider by Soliloquy – Responsive Image Slider for WordPress 30K+ · 4.7★ (1025) wp.org #20 ↓2 9 too low 12

BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 4 too high 13

FooGallery Photo Gallery : Image, Video & Masonry Galleries 100K+ · 4.8★ (995) not PHP-current wp.org #22 ↓5 9 too low 14

Ecwid by Lightspeed Ecommerce Shopping Cart 20K+ · 4.5★ (228) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 ↓2 1 too high 15

MStore API – Create Native Android & iOS Apps On The Cloud 2K+ · 3.7★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #7 8 too high 16 B BSK PDF Manager 7K+ · 4.5★ (46) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #10 6 too high 17

LiveChat – Live Chat Plugin for WP Websites 10K+ · 4.6★ (98) wp.org #23 ↓1 6 too low 18

Payment Gateway for PayPal on WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.4★ (73) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #16 ↓4 2 too high 19

Add to Home Screen & Progressive Web App 1K+ · 3.7★ (25) wp.org #19 ↓3 20

Pdf Embed 10K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓3 2 too high 21

LazyTasks – Project & Task Management with Collaboration, Kanban and Gantt Chart 90+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑4 4 too high 22

Brevo for WooCommerce 30K+ · 3.4★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 ↓1 2 too low 23

Micropub 200+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24

SimplyBook.me – Booking and reservations calendar 30K+ · 1.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #6 18 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.