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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “bookmarking tool”

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 “bookmarking tool”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Purchase Redirect for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #9 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster places #6 on merit, 3.3★ from 617 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Download Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (1006) wp.org #1 2 Social Sharing Plugin – Sassy Social Share 100K+ · 4.8★ (523) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Simple Business Directory – AI Powered 300+ · 4.9★ (62) wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too low 4 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Slickstream: Engagement and Conversions 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #3 ↓1 2 too high 6 NextScripts: Social Networks Auto-Poster 20K+ · 3.3★ (617) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too low 7 Vuukle – Comments, Reactions, Quizzes, Share Bar & Ad Revenue 200+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #8 ↓2 1 too low 8 Trace My IP – Visitor IP Tracker, Stats Analytics & Page Views Counter with Email Alerts 1K+ · 4.5★ (21) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 Sticky Buttons – Floating Buttons Builder 10K+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #4 ↓1 5 too high 10 ShareToSocial – Social Media Share Buttons & Sharing Icons 100+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #5 ↓1 5 too high 11 12 Step Meeting List 900+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #21 ↓2 10 too low 12 CubeWP Framework 3K+ · 4.8★ (12) wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 MediaHaven – Video Gallery, HLS Player & WooCommerce Product Videos 40+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too low 14 SERA Post Bookmarks — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 ↓1 4 too high 15 Doohickey's Dev Tools — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 Delisho – Recipe Widgets and Blocks 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 ↓1 2 too high 17 Purchase Redirect for WooCommerce 100+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 8 too high 18 Lion Social Share — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 19 LogWatch — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 20 Georg Kloster Bible Reader — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 21 Maestro: The Inline Admin Menu Editor 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 5 too high 22 Perxel AI Translate — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓2 23 FalcoSearch – Live Search & Product Filter for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24 U UserWall WP — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 1 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.