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

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 “appstore”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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

WP App Store API shows at wp.org #16 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.3★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WP-Appbox 2K+ · 4.5★ (63) not PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Reviews Widgets for Google & 45+ platforms by Repuso 1K+ · 4.8★ (25) wp.org #2 3

Superb Social Media Share Buttons and Follow Buttons 6K+ · 4.4★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #3 4

NoMorePass Login 70+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #4 5

Appmaker WP – Convert WordPress to Native Android & iOS App 100+ · 4.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #8 3 too low 6

App Store Assistant 30+ · 4.8★ (25) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk wp.org #17 11 too low 7

PSM SEO Site Console — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 2 too high 8

Events Addon for Elementor 7K+ · 3.2★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #6 2 too high 9 W WordUP-Login — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #7 2 too high 10 A App banner 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 1 too low 11

WPComment2Bark — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 1 too low 12

BeyondCart Connector 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #9 3 too high 13

AppStore Reviews Viewer 40+ · 4.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #10 3 too high 14

WP App Store API 10+ · 2.3★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 7 too high 24 M Mobile App Showcase Widget 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk 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.