wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “bug tracking”

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 “bug tracking”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 4 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

Simple Matomo Tracking Code shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 800+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 1071 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Pixel Manager for WooCommerce – Conversion Tracking, Google Ads, GA4, TikTok, Dynamic Remarketing 40K+ · 4.9★ (399) wp.org #1 ↑2 2

CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (538) wp.org #3 ↓1 1 too low 3

Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too high 4

AfterShip Tracking – All-In-One WooCommerce Order Tracking (Free plan available) 7K+ · 4.8★ (633) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5

WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759) wp.org #5 ↑13 6

Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821) wp.org #12 ↑7 6 too low 7

Trakoo – Orders Tracking for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (58) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 3 too high 8

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #10 ↑4 2 too low 9

Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.7★ (1071) wp.org #18 9 too low 10

Analytify – Google Analytics 4 Tracking and Reporting in WordPress 20K+ · 4.7★ (488) wp.org #17 ↓7 7 too low 11

WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery with Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Brevo, Other SMTP & More 4M+ · 4.8★ (5209) wp.org #19 8 too low 12

ThirstyAffiliates – Affiliate Links, Link Branding, Link Tracking & Marketing Plugin 30K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #20 ↑1 8 too low 13

YaySMTP – WP Mail SMTP with Email Logs, Tracking & Reports 10K+ · 4.9★ (45) wp.org #21 ↑1 8 too low 14

User Activity Tracking and Log 2K+ · 3.5★ (34) wp.org #15 ↓2 1 too low 15

YITH WooCommerce Order & Shipment Tracking 7K+ · 3.7★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 ↓1 8 too high 16

Tracking Script Manager 2K+ · 4.1★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #8 ↓1 8 too high 17

Wp Tracking Codes 800+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↓1 8 too high 18

Tracking and Consent Manager – WP Full Picture 3K+ · 5.0★ (21) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 5 too low 19

CallRail Phone Call Tracking 10K+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓2 8 too high 20

Stape Conversion Tracking 10K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews wp.org #16 4 too high 21

Portugal CTT Tracking for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓2 7 too high 22

Feedbucket – Website Feedback Tool 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #24 2 too low 23

Simple Matomo Tracking Code 800+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓2 10 too high 24

CallTrackingMetrics 3K+ · 4.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↑1 2 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.