wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “availability alert”
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 “availability alert”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20.
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
Coming Soon Maintenance Mode shows at wp.org #15 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.7★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528)
wp.org #1 2 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #2 3 
All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Notifima – WooCommerce Stock Manager, Inventory Management, Waitlist 2K+ · 4.4★ (46)
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
SEOPress – AI SEO Plugin & On-site SEO 300K+ · 4.8★ (1268)
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
Sucuri Security – Auditing, Malware Scanner and Security Hardening 600K+ · 4.2★ (386)
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – RexFeed – Sell on 200+ Shopping Channels 10K+ · 4.8★ (256)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 
Easy Social Feed – All In One Social Feed Plugin for WordPress 30K+ · 4.6★ (502)
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 
Five Star Restaurant Reservations – WordPress Booking Plugin 10K+ · 4.7★ (211)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
WPCafe – Restaurant Menu, Online Food Ordering & Table Booking System 5K+ · 4.6★ (113)
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
WPVulnerability 10K+ · 5.0★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #7 6 too high 14 
Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698)
wp.org #22 8 too low 15 
AliNext – AliExpress Dropshipping Plugin for WooCommerce 4K+ · 4.3★ (53)
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 
Timetics – Appointment Booking Calendar & Scheduling 2K+ · 4.6★ (36)
wp.org #18 2 too low 17 
PushEngage – Web Push Notifications, WooCommerce Automation & Chat Widget 8K+ · 4.3★ (37)
wp.org #17 18 
Content Egg – Affiliate Product Importer & Price Comparison 10K+ · 3.9★ (56)
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
WP Inventory Manager 1K+ · 4.6★ (32)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
Bookit — Booking & Appointment Calendar 4K+ · 3.8★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #14 6 too high 21 
VigIA – AI Visibility, Analytics & Control 2K+ · 5.0★ (19) thin reviews
wp.org #24 3 too low 22 
CheckView – Form & Checkout Testing 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 too low 23 
Site Lockdown Security 700+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #19 4 too high 24 Coming Soon Maintenance Mode 6K+ · 4.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #15 9 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.