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

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 “cardboard”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 of the top 17. 2 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

Dropshipping Romania Avex shows at wp.org #6 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 50+ 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WPVR – 360 Panorama viewer and Virtual Tour Builder for WordPress 10K+ · 4.7★ (133) wp.org #1 2 Algori 360 Image 3K+ · 4.6★ (5) wp.org #2 3 Popular Brand Icons – Simple Icons 3K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #15 12 too low 4 MomentoPress for Momento360 1K+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Ravioli for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Algori 360 Video 500+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 CatCode Packaging Report — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 8 RAMZAN Packaging Reports for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 9 Cardboard 300+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #17 8 too low 10 Ombel Packaging Records for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 L LaserEngraverExpert Material Settings — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 1 too high 12 FWD Video Player 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Dropshipping Romania Avex 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 7 too high 14 Lifesizy Cutouts for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 PackVerity — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Hurda Fiyatları — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 2 too high 17 Climbing Cardboard — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 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.