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

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 “badgeos”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 7 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

Connect Ultimate Member to Discord shows at wp.org #6 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 30+ 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

Bit integrations – Form Integration, Webhook, Spreadsheets, CRM, LMS & Email Automation places #3 on merit, 4.9★ from 160 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Uncanny Automator – AI + Automation for WordPress | AI Agent, AI Page Builder, Free AI Usage Included 40K+ · 4.9★ (157) not PHP-current wp.org #2 1 too low 2

ExpressTechSoftwares Discord Add-on for Paid Memberships Pro 600+ · 4.3★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #4 2 too low 3

Bit integrations – Form Integration, Webhook, Spreadsheets, CRM, LMS & Email Automation 20K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #15 12 too low 4

Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #16 12 too low 5

ExpressTechSoftwares Addon for MemberPress and Discord 200+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #5 6

GamiPress – BadgeOS Importer 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #1 5 too high 7

Bit Flows: AI Agent Automation & Integrations for Forms, CRM, eCommerce, Google Sheets, and More 1K+ · 4.9★ (64) wp.org #18 11 too low 8

Inspect HTTP Requests 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #3 5 too high 9

Connect LearnDash to Discord 30+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 2 too high 10

Connect LifterLMS to Discord 10+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #9 1 too high 11 C Connect Tutor LMS to Discord 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 1 too high 12

Connect GamiPress to Discord 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #8 4 too high 13

GatherContent Plugin 70+ · 3.6★ (7) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 9 too low 14

Connect Restrict Content Pro to Discord AddOn 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 3 too high 15

Connect Ultimate Member to Discord 30+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #6 9 too high 16

Connect LearnPress to Discord 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 4 too high 17

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.