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

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 script”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Ultimate Classified Listings – Classifieds, Directory & Marketplace shows at wp.org #6 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 40+ 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

WP Telegram (Auto Post and Notifications) places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 426 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 WPAdverts – Classifieds Plugin 4K+ · 4.8★ (160) wp.org #1 2 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #2 3 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #5 6 Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504) wp.org #8 ↑3 2 too low 7 The Post Grid – Shortcode, Gutenberg Blocks and Elementor Addon for Post Grid 100K+ · 4.8★ (265) wp.org #9 2 too low 8 Cost Calculator Builder 20K+ · 4.5★ (393) wp.org #12 ↑1 4 too low 9 WP Ultimate CSV Importer – WordPress CSV, XML & Excel Import Export 20K+ · 4.4★ (593) wp.org #16 7 too low 10 hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88) wp.org #11 ↓3 1 too low 11 WP Telegram (Auto Post and Notifications) 30K+ · 5.0★ (426) wp.org #24 ↓4 13 too low 12 Honeypot Anti-Spam 10K+ · 4.7★ (12) wp.org #7 5 too high 13 GEO my WP 3K+ · 4.6★ (139) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 MembershipWorks – Membership, Events & Directory 2K+ · 4.4★ (37) wp.org #13 ↓1 1 too high 15 Invisible Anti-Spam & CAPTCHA — reCAPTCHA Alternative for All Forms 5K+ · 4.8★ (50) wp.org #20 ↓3 5 too low 16 Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) wp.org #10 6 too high 17 Product Carousel Slider & Grid Ultimate for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (33) wp.org #18 1 too low 18 Food Menu – Restaurant Menu & Online Ordering for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 Sense Forms 200+ · 4.9★ (10) wp.org #21 ↓11 2 too low 20 CubeWP Framework 3K+ · 4.8★ (12) wp.org #14 6 too high 21 Ultimate Classified Listings – Classifieds, Directory & Marketplace 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 15 too high 22 Polski for WooCommerce 60+ · 4.8★ (10) wp.org #19 ↑2 3 too high 23 Radius Booking – Appointment Booking Calendar & Scheduling for Services & Events 500+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too high 24 W Wbcom Designs – WB Ad Manager 300+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓4 1 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.