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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “check ins”

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 “check ins”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 6 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

CMS ADMINS Security Check Report shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 400+ 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

Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #12 on merit, 5.0★ from 1525 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 Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143) wp.org #1 2 Hustle – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Optins, Popups 80K+ · 4.4★ (859) wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too low 3 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #9 ↓2 6 too low 4 Popup Maker – Boost Sales, Conversions, Optins, Subscribers with the Ultimate WP Popup Builder 600K+ · 4.9★ (4514) wp.org #12 ↓3 8 too low 5 Icegram Engage – Popups, Welcome Bars, Optins, Slide-Ins & Lead Generation for WordPress 10K+ · 4.7★ (370) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 Asset CleanUp: Page Speed Booster 100K+ · 4.9★ (1564) wp.org #13 ↓5 6 too low 8 Temporary Login Without Password 90K+ · 5.0★ (1549) wp.org #19 ↓2 11 too low 9 Wbcom Designs – BuddyPress Check-ins 90+ · 3.5★ (11) wp.org #2 ↓1 7 too high 10 WPGraphQL 30K+ · 4.9★ (48) wp.org #10 11 Broken Link Checker 500K+ · 3.8★ (605) wp.org #7 ↓5 4 too high 12 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525) wp.org #24 12 too low 13 WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249) wp.org #15 ↓1 2 too low 14 Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) wp.org #14 ↓3 15 Website Pop-up Builder by BDOW! (formerly Sumo): Pop-ups + forms for email opt-ins and lead generation 10K+ · 4.2★ (519) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 Event Tickets Manager for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (32) wp.org #8 ↓3 8 too high 17 Simple Social Media Share Buttons – Social Sharing for Everyone 20K+ · 4.8★ (194) wp.org #16 ↓4 1 too high 18 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 CMS ADMINS Security Check Report 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 ↑2 15 too high 20 Poptics – Popup Builder, Email Opt-ins, Exit-Intent & WooCommerce Popups Sales 1K+ · 5.0★ (15) wp.org #18 ↓5 2 too high 21 Advanced Popups 60K+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #23 ↓7 2 too low 22 Eventward 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #22 23 atec Hosting Check 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↓1 12 too high 24 Nearby Now Reviews and Audio Testimonials 900+ · 2.6★ (5) wp.org #21 ↓6 3 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.