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

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 “asgaros”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

Spam Check for Asgaros shows at wp.org #12 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI places #6 on merit, 4.8★ from 201 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Asgaros Forum 10K+ · 4.8★ (208) wp.org #1 2 Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3213) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 wpForo Forum 20K+ · 4.7★ (390) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (86) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Toolbox for Asgaros Forum 1K+ · 5.0★ (77) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 7K+ · 4.8★ (201) wp.org #10 4 too low 7 GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) wp.org #9 2 too low 8 Advanced Form Integration — Connect Forms to 300+ Apps 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) wp.org #11 3 too low 9 Cyr to Lat Reloaded – Transliteration of Links and File Names 30K+ · 4.4★ (14) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 reCAPTCHA for Asgaros Forum 4K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #2 8 too high 11 Bit Flows: AI Agent Automation & Integrations for Forms, CRM, eCommerce, Google Sheets, and More 2K+ · 4.9★ (65) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 WP Notification Bell 700+ · 4.9★ (12) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred 10K+ · 4.6★ (471) wp.org #19 6 too low 14 Bit integrations – Form Integration, Webhook, Spreadsheets, CRM, LMS & Email Automation 20K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #22 8 too low 15 User Access Manager 10K+ · 4.3★ (113) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 Voice Audio Widgets – Voice recorder with Forms, AI Powered STT, TTS, Transcriptions, Language Teaching 300+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #16 17 Simple:Press Forum 300+ · 4.2★ (23) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 Auto Affiliate Links 2K+ · 4.1★ (39) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 wp-Monalisa 600+ · 4.8★ (25) wp.org #21 2 too low 20 AutoReply AI & LLMS.txt Generator 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 7 too high 21 Spam Check for Asgaros 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 9 too high 22 Send Data from any wp form to Google Sheets, Mailchimp, Notion, Slack & More – EasyLink Automations 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 4 too high 23 ReplyPilot AI – Real-Time AI Chatbot Assistant — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 6 too high 24 Сhange user group Asgaros forum 20+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.