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

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 “autodetection”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 6 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.

B

Ranked above its merit

Bikit Business Directory shows at wp.org #4 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 100+ 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

Appointment Booking Calendar places #3 on merit, 4.2★ from 92 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Cryptex | E-Mail Address Protection 800+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #1 2 CSV to HTML 300+ · 5.0★ (22) wp.org #7 5 too low 3 Appointment Booking Calendar 1K+ · 4.2★ (92) wp.org #11 8 too low 4 wp-forecast 4K+ · 4.2★ (23) wp.org #9 5 too low 5 Easy SwipeBox 2K+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #10 5 too low 6 WP Advanced Ticket System, Elite Support Helpdesk 100+ · 4.0★ (58) wp.org #14 8 too low 7 Sport livescores: foootball and basketball results, fixtures and standings 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #2 5 too high 8 ArtPlacer Widget 100+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 Videtect – Auto Video Source for Elementor — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 6 too high 10 SCM – Smart Currency Manager 40+ · 4.6★ (11) wp.org #16 6 too low 11 FV Gravatar Cache 600+ · 3.9★ (11) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too low 12 FA Lite – WP responsive slider plugin 500+ · 3.7★ (13) wp.org #15 3 too low 13 Eloquent 10+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 ↑1 1 too high 14 Australcode Back In Stock for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 9 too high 15 B Bikit Business Directory 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 11 too high 16 Classified Ads 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 8 too high 17 I imageLightbox 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 4 too low 18 SCM – Smart Currency Manager – Premium Variant for Dokan 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 SCD – Smart Currency Detector – Premium Variant for wcmp — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 G Générateur de leads – EnChantier 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 2 too low 21 SCD – Smart Currency Detector – Premium Variant for WCFM 10+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #18 3 too high 22 SCM – Smart Currency Manager – Premium Variant for WcVendor — · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #19 3 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.