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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “client notes”

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 “client notes”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 of the top 20. 2 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

Pronamic Client shows at wp.org #3 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 18 places. Its 600+ 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.

Buried gem

Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #9 on merit, 5.0★ from 1526 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 Peter's Post Notes – Admin Notes for Posts and Pages 3K+ · 4.9★ (26) wp.org #1 2 WPVibe – MCP Server for WordPress, works with Claude, ChatGPT & other AI MCP agents 100K+ · 5.0★ (199) wp.org #9 ↓1 7 too low 3 Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) wp.org #8 ↑1 5 too low 4 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #14 10 too low 5 WP Client Reports 6K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #2 3 too high 6 OAuth Single Sign On – SSO (OAuth Client) 6K+ · 4.9★ (327) wp.org #12 ↓1 6 too low 7 D Dashboard Notes 500+ · 4.7★ (19) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 KeepInMind Dashboard Notes 300+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #4 4 too high 9 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526) wp.org #22 13 too low 10 SureFeedback Client Site 5K+ · 4.0★ (39) wp.org #7 3 too high 11 Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793) wp.org #21 10 too low 12 Sunshine Photo Cart – Client Photo Gallery & Photo Proofing for Photographers 1K+ · 4.7★ (138) wp.org #13 1 too low 13 Sprout Invoices – Client Invoicing & Estimates 1K+ · 4.4★ (191) wp.org #16 3 too low 14 Admin Page Notes 700+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #6 8 too high 15 OpenStation – Admin Dashboard Notes, Custom Dashboard, AI Assistant & PWA 1K+ · 5.0★ (23) wp.org #11 ↑1 4 too high 16 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #19 3 too low 17 Easy MCP AI – Connect Claude to WordPress: MCP Server for ChatGPT & AI Agents 30K+ · 4.9★ (16) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 Atarim – AI Agency for WordPress: Edit Pages, Fix Code, Update Plugins, SEO & Client Feedback 1K+ · 4.9★ (126) wp.org #24 ↓1 6 too low 19 Broken Link Checker 500K+ · 3.8★ (605) wp.org #23 ↑1 4 too low 20 Frontend User Notes 70+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #10 10 too high 21 Pronamic Client 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 18 too high 22 WP-CRM System – Manage Clients and Projects 700+ · 3.9★ (15) wp.org #18 4 too high 23 Site Notes: Site Feedback, Site Notes with Sitewide Visual Commenting 20+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #17 6 too high 24 Previu – Visual Client Feedback for Elementor 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 4 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.