wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “constellations”
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 “constellations”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 2 of the top 15. 1 plugin is 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.
Buried gem
CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes places #2 on merit, 4.7★ from 326 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.
CheckoutWC Lite – Conversion optimized WooCommerce checkout 2K+ · 4.8★ (34) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 CMP – Coming Soon & Maintenance Plugin by NiteoThemes 200K+ · 4.7★ (326)
wp.org #6 4 too low 3 
wp-forecast 4K+ · 4.2★ (23) thin reviews
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Constellation Client Portal 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
AnimFolio – Animated Portfolio & Resume Builder — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
CanvaMotion for Elementor 40+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
Official CleverReach® Plugin for WooCommerce 400+ · 4.3★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 8 
Nova Blocks by Pixelgrade 800+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #8 9 
The Moon – Current Phase and Next Eclipse 100+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 10 
Aizle Dots — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 11 
WunderPaint – The Dynamic Design and Automation Studio 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 12 
Constellation: Smart Tools for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 13 H Hello Star 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 14 
Coming Soon Master 70+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 15 W Who owns Your Country? 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 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.