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

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 “classifieds”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 4 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

Simple Classifieds shows at wp.org #13 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 AWP Classifieds 3K+ · 4.6★ (301) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 WPAdverts – Classifieds Plugin 4K+ · 4.8★ (160) wp.org #3 4 Spam protection, Honeypot, Anti-Spam by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3213) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) wp.org #5 6 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #6 7 Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (96) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (221) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Listdom: AI-powered Business Directory with Classifieds Ads Listings 1K+ · 4.9★ (58) wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too high 10 Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too low 11 Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79) wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too high 12 Variation Images Gallery for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (39) wp.org #15 ↑5 3 too low 13 Schema & Structured Data for WP & AMP 100K+ · 4.5★ (252) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too low 14 aDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Ads Listings Directory 300+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #20 ↓1 6 too low 15 Honeypot Anti-Spam 10K+ · 4.7★ (12) wp.org #21 ↑1 6 too low 16 HivePress Favorites 7K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too low 17 Ultimate Classified Listings – Classifieds, Directory & Marketplace 50+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 ↓1 5 too high 18 HivePress Geolocation 6K+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 HivePress Messages 7K+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #22 ↓1 3 too low 20 Simple Classifieds 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21 HivePress Paid Listings 4K+ · 3.3★ (3) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Classified Listing Toolkits 4K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 4 too high 23 HivePress Claim Listings 3K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 24 DirectoryPress – Business Directory And Classified Ad Listing 700+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #19 ↓1 5 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.