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

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 “bells”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Kanbanz shows at wp.org #10 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 2K+ 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

Simple Link Directory – AI Powered places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 121 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 WP Notification Bell 700+ · 4.9★ (12) wp.org #1 2 Buddy Notification Bell 100+ · 4.7★ (14) wp.org #2 3 Weather Effect 4K+ · 4.5★ (30) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Disable WP Notification 10K+ · 4.3★ (12) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 WPTerm 4K+ · 5.0★ (15) wp.org #6 ↓1 7 WP ImageViewer 700+ · 4.9★ (10) wp.org #5 ↑2 2 too high 8 C Custom Body Class 10K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 Simple Login Notification 2K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too high 10 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #22 ↓1 12 too low 11 Push Notification for Post and BuddyPress 200+ · 4.7★ (24) wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too low 12 PushEngage – Web Push Notifications, WooCommerce Automation & Chat Widget 8K+ · 4.3★ (37) wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 Gravitec.net – Web Push Notifications 1K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #13 ↓1 14 Record of Consent Extension for Complianz 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #9 5 too high 15 DevVN Snow 60+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too low 16 Slidr 60+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 ↓1 4 too high 17 One to one user Chat by WPGuppy 500+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #17 ↓1 18 Rs Christmas Trees – Holiday Decorations, Christmas Garlands & Falling Snow Effect 100+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 Shop Manager for WooCommerce – AI-Powered Frontend Dashboard & Smart Order, Product & Employee Management 40+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #21 2 too low 20 OXP Breaking News Ticker 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21 Rs Christmas Santa – Snowfall, Christmas Lights, Holiday Music, Flying Sleigh & Countdown 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too high 22 Kanbanz 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↑10 12 too high 23 Weblix Analytics – Real-Time Stats & Visitor Counter 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 7 too high 24 Notices Panel 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓1

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.