wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “availabilities”
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 “availabilities”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 3 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
Booking Package shows at wp.org #16 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 15 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #1 ↑2 2 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821)
wp.org #2 3 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 ↓2 4 
Booking Calendar 40K+ · 4.8★ (657)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too low 9 
Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155)
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 
Availability Datepicker – Booking Calendar for Contact Form 7 – Input WP 10K+ · 4.1★ (42)
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 
WP Simple Booking Calendar 10K+ · 4.8★ (227) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too high 12 
Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (106)
wp.org #14 ↑1 2 too low 13 
Easy Social Feed – All In One Social Feed Plugin for WordPress 30K+ · 4.6★ (502)
wp.org #24 ↓3 11 too low 14 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – RexFeed – Sell on 200+ Shopping Channels 10K+ · 4.8★ (256) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 1 too low 15 
Fluent Booking – The Ultimate Appointments Scheduling, Events Booking, Events Calendar Solution 20K+ · 4.7★ (46)
wp.org #17 ↓3 2 too low 16 
Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #13 3 too high 17 
BA Book Everything 10K+ · 4.2★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #11 6 too high 18 
Waitlist Woocommerce ( Back in stock notifier ) 4K+ · 4.6★ (113) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 ↓2 2 too low 19 
IP Location Block 10K+ · 4.5★ (35)
wp.org #22 ↓2 3 too low 20 
WP24 Domain Check 4K+ · 4.3★ (32)
wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too low 21 
EMC – Embed Calendly Scheduling With Ease 10K+ · 4.8★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓2 2 too high 22 
Easy Booking – WooCommerce Booking & Reservation Plugin 4K+ · 4.7★ (63) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23 Booking Package 10K+ · 4.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #16 7 too high 24 
MotoPress Hotel Booking for Elementor 10K+ · 3.9★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 6 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.