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

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 “calc”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

SpreadsheetConverter Calculator shows at wp.org #16 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.5★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates places #6 on merit, 4.6★ from 388 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 Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259) wp.org #1 2 Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 Statify – Extended Evaluation 20K+ · 4.6★ (11) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Easy Appointments 10K+ · 4.3★ (131) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Mortgage Calculators WP 3K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #3 ↑1 2 too high 6 The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too low 7 Football Pool 900+ · 4.9★ (83) wp.org #10 ↓1 3 too low 8 Piotnet Addons For Elementor 20K+ · 3.2★ (57) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too high 9 Tiny Yardage Calculator 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too low 10 fitness calculators 500+ · 4.1★ (8) wp.org #23 ↓1 13 too low 11 Advanced Block Controls (ABC) — Core Blocks Page Builder and Full Site Editing Toolkit 80+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #20 ↓1 9 too low 12 Offer Calc 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 6 too high 13 Smart Loan Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too high 14 Spreadsheet Paste Block 300+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too high 15 Snap Carousel — Block Style 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 Distance Based Shipping Calculator 100+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 7 too high 17 Uplink CSS Columns 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓1 4 too low 18 AC’s Auto Loan Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 Sityn Enhancer for Bricks Builder 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 League Table – WordPress Table Plugin 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓1 4 too low 21 Home Affordability Calculator 80+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 3 too high 22 X XllenTech Salat Timings 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23 CC Mortgage Calculator 80+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 SpreadsheetConverter Calculator 500+ · 2.5★ (4) wp.org #16 ↓1 8 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.