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

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 “boat”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

Yachtino boat listing shows at wp.org #6 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Knit Pay – Cashfree, Instamojo, Razorpay, PayPal and more places #8 on merit, 4.9★ from 100 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WP Booking System – Booking Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (344) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #2 3

VikRentCar Car Rental Management System 4K+ · 4.8★ (30) wp.org #3 4

Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292) wp.org #10 ↓1 6 too low 5

Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (106) wp.org #11 ↓1 6 too low 6

Product Catalog Simple 1K+ · 4.5★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #5 1 too high 7

WP Travel Engine – Tour Booking Plugin – Tour Operator Software 20K+ · 4.9★ (594) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #15 ↓2 8 too low 8

Knit Pay – Cashfree, Instamojo, Razorpay, PayPal and more 2K+ · 4.9★ (100) wp.org #17 ↓2 9 too low 9

Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #9 ↓1 10

Document Gallery 8K+ · 4.8★ (112) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 2 too low 11

Multipurpose Ticket Booking Manager (Bus/Train/Ferry/Boat/Shuttle) 60+ · 4.3★ (7) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #4 7 too high 12

Layouts for Elementor 1K+ · 4.7★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓2 1 too low 13

MotoPress Appointment Booking 2K+ · 4.5★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓2 5 too low 14

Bukza 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #7 ↓1 7 too high 15

Inventory Presser – Car Dealer Listings 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓1 7 too high 16

Yachtino boat listing 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 10 too high 17

Fleet Manager 10+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓2 3 too high 18

Simple Boat Rental — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too high 19

Boat Position — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓2 20

PCIO VIS Boat — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓1 21

Boat Notes Lite — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22

Broker for Boat — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓1 1 too low 23

MyBooking Reservation Engine 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 2 too high 24

GemBooking – Appointment Booking, Booking Calendar & Reservations 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓6

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.