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

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 “apple”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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

Block for Apple Maps shows at wp.org #3 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 18 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Side Cart Woocommerce | Woocommerce Cart places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 453 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

Payment Plugins for Stripe WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.8★ (303) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143) wp.org #8 ↓1 6 too low 3

Publish To Apple News 4K+ · 3.8★ (25) wp.org #2 1 too high 4

Favicon by RealFaviconGenerator 200K+ · 4.9★ (802) wp.org #10 ↓2 6 too low 5

Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591) wp.org #11 ↑2 6 too low 6

Payment Plugins for PayPal WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (127) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 ↑4 1 too low 7

WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too high 8

Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint wp.org #9 1 too low 9

Side Cart Woocommerce | Woocommerce Cart 70K+ · 4.9★ (453) wp.org #20 11 too low 10

WooPayments: Integrated WooCommerce Payments 800K+ · 3.4★ (177) throws errorsnot PHP-current low rating, top placement wp.org #5 5 too high 11

Multibanco, MB WAY, Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Payshop, and PIX (ifthenpay) for WooCommerce 8K+ · 5.0★ (21) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #6 5 too high 12

FunnelKit Payment Gateway for Stripe WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.9★ (53) wp.org #14 2 too low 13

Nextend Social Login and Register 200K+ · 4.9★ (446) wp.org #23 ↑1 10 too low 14

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current wp.org #19 ↓4 5 too low 15 M Mesmerize Companion 50K+ · 4.4★ (51) wp.org #16 ↑2 1 too low 16

All In One Login 60K+ · 3.6★ (35) wp.org #12 4 too high 17

Seriously Simple Podcasting 20K+ · 4.7★ (330) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #21 4 too low 18

Payment Gateway for PayPal on WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.4★ (73) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 ↓1 5 too high 19

Payment Gateway for Redsys & WooCommerce Lite 20K+ · 4.9★ (87) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 ↑3 2 too high 20

WPMobile.App – Android and iOS App Builder 3K+ · 4.8★ (162) not PHP-current wp.org #24 4 too low 21

Block for Apple Maps 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #3 ↑1 18 too high 22

Payment Gateway of Stripe for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.4★ (66) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #15 ↑1 7 too high 23 M Materialis Companion 6K+ · 4.7★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑4 5 too high 24

WooCommerce Square 80K+ · 2.1★ (121) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #22 ↓3 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.