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

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 “bacs”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 5 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

Tilopay shows at wp.org #5 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.3★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Stripe Payment Forms by WP Simple Pay – Accept Credit Card Payments + Subscriptions with Stripe places #10 on merit, 4.4★ from 117 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237) wp.org #1 2 PeproDev Receipt Uploader for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Payment Gateway Based Fees and Discounts for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.7★ (58) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 CartFlows – Funnel Builder & Checkout Plugin for WooCommerce 200K+ · 4.8★ (517) wp.org #9 ↑2 5 too low 5 Payment Gateway of Stripe for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.4★ (66) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 PAY by square pre WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 WSB HUB3 1K+ · 5.0★ (20) wp.org #12 5 too low 8 WP Stripe Checkout 1K+ · 4.4★ (23) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 WPify Woo – Withdrawal, CRN/VAT, QR payments, Heureka and more for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (49) wp.org #14 ↑1 5 too low 10 Stripe Payment Forms by WP Simple Pay – Accept Credit Card Payments + Subscriptions with Stripe 8K+ · 4.4★ (117) wp.org #22 ↓2 12 too low 11 F Fr Multi Bank Transfer Payment Gateways for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #15 ↓1 4 too low 12 Bank Transfer (BACS) through Stripe 10+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) wp.org #21 ↓2 8 too low 14 Komfortkasse for WooCommerce 100+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #13 1 too high 15 Ainbae Receipt Upload for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 9 too high 16 Tilopay 2K+ · 4.3★ (4) wp.org #5 11 too high 17 N Ni WooCommerce Payment Gateway Charges 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #17 18 GR UPN payment form 30+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↑2 2 too low 19 HW Smart BACS Status & Stock for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 QR payment for WooCommerce 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↓1 10 too high 21 PixelcraftDev Confirm Payment for Woocommerce 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 Country Based Bank Accounts for WooCommerce 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 N Ni Payment Reminder For WooCommerce 100+ · 2.9★ (7) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 LT Invoices for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓2 5 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.