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

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 “clarify”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

ChinaDS – Tmall-Taobao Dropshipping for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #11 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security places #8 on merit, 4.7★ from 5039 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 Analytics Germanized for Google Analytics (GDPR / DSGVO) 7K+ · 4.5★ (27) wp.org #1 2 AWP Classifieds 3K+ · 4.6★ (301) wp.org #2 3 Clearfy Cache – WordPress optimization plugin, Minify HTML, CSS & JS, Defer 40K+ · 4.7★ (339) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 Open Close Store for WooCommerce – Business Hours & Order Scheduling 600+ · 3.4★ (41) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Chartify – WordPress Chart Plugin 3K+ · 4.9★ (28) wp.org #5 ↓1 6 WRC Pricing Tables – Responsive CSS3 Pricing Tables 1K+ · 4.2★ (36) wp.org #6 7 ALD – Dropshipping and Fulfillment for AliExpress and WooCommerce 8K+ · 3.7★ (138) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #22 14 too low 9 Fox LMS – eLearning & Course Builder 60+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 Simple CAPTCHA with Cloudflare Turnstile 200K+ · 4.7★ (262) wp.org #24 14 too low 11 Smartarget – Chat Buttons & Engagement Apps 900+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #10 1 too high 12 Hagakure – Yet Another Error Reporter 30+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 ↑1 8 too high 13 Limit Comments and Word Count 40+ · 4.4★ (9) wp.org #13 14 TMDS – Dropshipping for TEMU and Woo 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 5 too high 15 AIT AI Admin Assistance 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too low 16 Anchor Menu 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 Host Domination Welcome Book: Free Digital Guest Guide for Vacation Rentals, B&Bs & Hotels 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↑1 2 too high 18 LS – AI Editorial Engine 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 3 too low 19 WDS Site Documentation 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 Gallery for Google Photos – share your albums right on your site 1K+ · 2.7★ (6) wp.org #14 6 too high 21 CiteNexus GEO Engine AI — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 2 too low 22 Vma plus Station 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 3 too high 23 HANDMADE – Dropshipping for Etsy and WooCommerce 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 ChinaDS – Tmall-Taobao Dropshipping for WooCommerce 100+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #11 13 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.