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

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 “certificates”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 3 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

Sensei LMS Certificates shows at wp.org #8 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 16 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 #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too low 2 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 WP Encryption: Easy HTTPS / SSL & Free SSL certificate, HTTPS redirect 50K+ · 4.9★ (1146) wp.org #3 ↑3 4 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #4 ↓2 5 Auto-Install Free SSL – Generate & Install Free SSL Certificates 8K+ · 4.9★ (405) wp.org #5 ↓1 6 SSL Zen — SSL Certificate Installer & HTTPS Redirects 9K+ · 4.9★ (665) wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too low 7 WP Force SSL & HTTPS SSL Redirect 80K+ · 4.7★ (179) wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too low 8 Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash 20K+ · 4.8★ (105) wp.org #10 ↑5 2 too low 9 Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #17 8 too low 10 Quiz and Survey Master (QSM) – Quiz Maker & Survey Maker 40K+ · 4.7★ (1282) wp.org #22 12 too low 11 Custom Sidebars – Dynamic Sidebar Classic Widget Area Manager 100K+ · 4.7★ (1028) wp.org #23 12 too low 12 PW WooCommerce Gift Cards 20K+ · 4.7★ (195) wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too low 13 Easy HTTPS Redirection (SSL) 100K+ · 4.2★ (71) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 SMTP Mailer 70K+ · 4.6★ (67) wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too low 15 SpinupWP 30K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16 PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↑1 10 too high 17 Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning 9K+ · 3.5★ (40) wp.org #24 7 too low 18 Academic Certificate Verification – Certificate Management & Certificate Validator 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 ↑4 6 too high 19 Edutain Certificate Validator – Certificate Verification, QR Code & Digital Credentials 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↑3 4 too high 20 Show Certificates Anywhere for LearnDash 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 9 too high 21 LearnPress – Course Wishlist 10K+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 LearnPress – Prerequisites Courses 5K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↑1 4 too high 23 Accredible Certificates & Open Badges 80+ · 2.0★ (5) wp.org #19 ↓2 4 too high 24 Sensei LMS Certificates 4K+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↑1 16 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.