wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “backorders”
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 “backorders”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Shopkeeper Extender shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 7K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Product Import Export for WooCommerce – CSV Product Importer & Exporter places #11 on merit, 4.6★ from 413 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Bulky – Bulk Edit Products for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (53)
wp.org #1 2 
Stock Manager for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (130)
wp.org #2 3 
PW WooCommerce Bulk Edit 20K+ · 4.9★ (238)
wp.org #3 ↑1 4 
Waitlist Woocommerce ( Back in stock notifier ) 4K+ · 4.6★ (113)
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Conditional Payments for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (28)
wp.org #5 6 
Notifima – WooCommerce Stock Manager, Inventory Management, Waitlist 2K+ · 4.4★ (46)
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
WowStore – Store Builder & Product Blocks for WooCommerce 4K+ · 4.6★ (113)
wp.org #10 ↓2 3 too low 8 
Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122)
wp.org #12 ↑10 4 too low 9 
CoDesigner – All in One Elementor WooCommerce Builder 5K+ · 4.4★ (153)
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 
Smart Manager – Bulk Edit for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.4★ (288)
wp.org #15 5 too low 11 Product Import Export for WooCommerce – CSV Product Importer & Exporter 80K+ · 4.6★ (413)
wp.org #23 ↓2 12 too low 12 
Call for Price for WooCommerce 8K+ · 3.9★ (27)
wp.org #8 ↑1 4 too high 13 
Deposits & Partial Payments for WooCommerce – Bayna 1K+ · 5.0★ (49)
wp.org #19 ↓1 6 too low 14 
Advanced Custom Stock Status 8K+ · 4.2★ (37)
wp.org #14 ↓1 15 
Variations as Single Product – Display Single Variation for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too low 16 
ELEX WooCommerce Bulk Edit Products, Prices & Attributes (Basic) 4K+ · 3.7★ (25)
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too low 17 
WC Backorder Split 50+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↓1 13 too high 18 
WPC Variation Bulk Editor for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.3★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too high 19 
Ship Estimate for WooCommerce 100+ · 4.9★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #22 ↓2 3 too low 20 
Display Stock Status For WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21 
Export Variable Products 400+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #21 22 
PreOrders for WooCommerce – PreCart 70+ · 4.3★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too high 23 Shopkeeper Extender 7K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↑1 14 too high 24 
Variation Auto Expire For WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
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.