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

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 “courseware”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 3 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

WP Courseware for MemberMouse shows at wp.org #12 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes places #1 on merit, 4.8★ from 393 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #9 8 too low 2 Affiliates Manager 8K+ · 4.1★ (61) wp.org #4 2 too low 3 GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) wp.org #6 ↓1 3 too low 4 WP Courseware for WooCommerce 1K+ · 3.1★ (15) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 Uncanny Automator – AI + Automation for WordPress | AI Agent, AI Page Builder, Free AI Usage Included 40K+ · 4.9★ (157) wp.org #10 5 too low 6 WP Courseware for MemberPress 100+ · 3.0★ (4) wp.org #1 5 too high 7 Visibility Control for LearnDash 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #13 6 too low 8 Experience API for WP Courseware by Grassblade 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 ↓2 3 too high 9 Paid Memberships Pro Addon for WP Courseware 200+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #3 ↑3 6 too high 10 Ascending Posts by Fly Plugins 400+ · 3.7★ (15) wp.org #17 7 too low 11 Experience API for TutorLMS by GrassBlade 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 4 too high 12 Visibility Control for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 2 too low 13 Visibility Control for LearnPress 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 2 too high 14 myCred Addons – Ultimate myCred Modules To Support WordPress Gamification and Loyalty Rewards 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 6 too high 15 Experience API for MasterStudy by GrassBlade 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 WP Courseware – Mailchimp Addon 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too low 17 Experience API for GamiPress by Grassblade 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 3 too low 18 ConvertKit Addon for WP Courseware 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 3 too low 19 Manual Completions for WP Courseware — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 3 too low 20 A Addon for AB-Inspiration, WooCommerce and WP Courseware 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 3 too low 21 WP Courseware for MemberMouse 20+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #12 9 too high 22 WP Courseware for S2Member 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 myCred Amelia – Gamification with Events & Appointments Booking 40+ · 1.7★ (3) wp.org #15 8 too high 24 Experience API for Sensei LMS by GrassBlade 20+ · 2.0★ (1) wp.org #19 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.