wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “attendees”
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 “attendees”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Gravatar Enhanced – Avatars, Profiles, and Privacy shows at wp.org #13 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 100K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia places #7 on merit, 4.6★ from 793 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551)
wp.org #1 2 
Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144)
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413)
wp.org #3 ↑2 4 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236)
wp.org #4 5 
Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 6K+ · 4.5★ (167)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Registrations for the Events Calendar – Event Registration Plugin 7K+ · 5.0★ (103)
wp.org #8 ↑1 2 too low 7 Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #12 5 too low 8 
EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85)
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↓3 4 too high 10 
Fluent Booking – The Ultimate Appointments Scheduling, Events Booking, Events Calendar Solution 20K+ · 4.7★ (46)
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too high 11 
Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292)
wp.org #16 5 too low 12 
RSVP and Event Management 3K+ · 4.4★ (58)
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Spotlight Social Photo Feed 50K+ · 4.7★ (171)
wp.org #19 ↓2 6 too low 14 
Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (107)
wp.org #18 ↑1 4 too low 15 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #17 ↑1 2 too low 16 
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #11 5 too high 17 
Ticket Tailor — Event Ticketing & Registration 4K+ · 4.3★ (46)
wp.org #15 2 too high 18 
WebinarPress – Webinar System for WordPress 800+ · 4.1★ (40)
wp.org #14 4 too high 19 
EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
Event Monster – Event Manager, Event Booking, Event Ticket & Registration 600+ · 4.8★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too low 21 
Event Koi Lite – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, RSVP & Registration 60+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 Gravatar Enhanced – Avatars, Profiles, and Privacy 100K+ · 5.0★ (3) host-installed base thin reviews
wp.org #13 9 too high 23 
Add-On for Zoom Registration and Gravity Forms 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #24 1 too low 24 
Events Manager – Zoom Integration 600+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 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.