wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “chrono”
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 “chrono”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 14. 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
Nepali Chrono Craft shows at wp.org #5 but places #9 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
FakerPress places #1 on merit, 4.9★ from 205 reviews, but shows at wp.org #6. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
FakerPress 10K+ · 4.9★ (205)
wp.org #6 5 too low 2 
Chronos – Opening Hours & Scheduling 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Web3 – Crypto wallet Login & NFT token gating 100+ · 4.7★ (23) not PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
WP Chrono 40+ · 5.0★ (10) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 6 too low 5 
Sleekode Chrono Snap — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 3 too high 6 
Simple Connection for ChronoFresh 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
pierre314r Local Taxonomy Indexer — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
AweBooking – Hotel Booking System 1K+ · 3.0★ (22) not PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 3 too low 9 Nepali Chrono Craft 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked
wp.org #5 4 too high 10 
Stan, la solution de paiement sans carte 10+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 
Stan Checkout — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 C Chrono Cloud — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 1 too low 13 
Epingle Un Dossard 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Kripto Para Dönüştürücü ve Döviz Hesaplama 40+ · 3.5★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 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.