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

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

Sensei LMS Certificates shows at wp.org #12 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Quiz and Survey Master (QSM) – Quiz Maker & Survey Maker places #10 on merit, 4.7★ from 1282 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #1 2 WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 SSL Zen — SSL Certificate Installer & HTTPS Redirects 9K+ · 4.9★ (665) wp.org #6 ↑1 2 too low 5 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #5 ↓2 6 Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates 8K+ · 4.9★ (405) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 WP Force SSL & HTTPS SSL Redirect 80K+ · 4.7★ (179) wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too low 8 Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash 20K+ · 4.8★ (105) wp.org #11 ↑5 3 too low 9 Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #20 11 too low 10 Quiz and Survey Master (QSM) – Quiz Maker & Survey Maker 40K+ · 4.7★ (1282) wp.org #24 14 too low 11 Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL) 100K+ · 4.2★ (71) wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too low 12 PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 10 too high 13 SMTP Mailer 70K+ · 4.6★ (67) wp.org #17 ↓2 4 too low 14 SpinupWP 30K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #23 9 too low 15 Academic Certificate Verification – Certificate Management & Certificate Validator 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 ↑1 7 too high 16 Edutain Certificate Validator – Certificate Verification, QR Code & Digital Credentials 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↑1 7 too high 17 Certify – Certificate Management & Verification 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too high 18 PDFDraft – Drag & Drop PDF Builder, PDF Viewer, Embed & Download PDF, Certificate & Invoice Designer 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↑2 3 too high 19 Show Certificates Anywhere for LearnDash 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↑2 3 too high 20 LM Certificate Publisher 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↑1 1 too high 21 LearnPress – Course Wishlist 10K+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Certloom – Certificate Verification 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 LearnPress – Prerequisites Courses 5K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↑1 5 too high 24 Sensei LMS Certificates 4K+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #12 12 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.