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

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 “courts”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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

Tabby Checkout shows at wp.org #17 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 4K+ 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

WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings places #7 on merit, 4.3★ from 122 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Local Google Fonts 100K+ · 4.6★ (83) wp.org #1 2 OMGF | GDPR/DSGVO Compliant, Faster Google Fonts. Easy. 300K+ · 4.7★ (213) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 WP DSGVO Tools (GDPR) 10K+ · 4.0★ (116) wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4 Court Reservation – Tennis, Padel & Sports Court Booking 90+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 GDPRess | Eliminate external requests to increase GDPR compliance 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #5 ↑1 6 Signature Add-On for Gravity Forms 1K+ · 3.9★ (21) wp.org #6 ↓1 7 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #12 ↓2 5 too low 8 Occupancy Plan 100+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #7 ↑1 1 too high 9 EasyFonts – Host Google Fonts Locally, Fast & Auto-Optimize, GDPR Compliant 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too low 10 Digital Signature Add-on for WooCommerce 900+ · 3.1★ (19) wp.org #11 ↑1 1 too low 11 connectDaily Events Calendar Plugin 90+ · 4.4★ (17) wp.org #20 ↓2 9 too low 12 Ninja Forms Signature Contract Add-On 300+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 WP Forms Signature Contract Add-On 800+ · 4.4★ (5) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 Time Slot – Booking and Appointment System 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #22 ↓1 8 too low 15 Formidable Forms Signature Online Contract Automation 200+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #14 ↑1 1 too high 16 Bukza 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓1 7 too low 17 GemBooking – Appointment Booking, Booking Calendar & Reservations 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↑1 4 too high 18 Contact Forms 7 Digital Signature Add-On 300+ · 2.6★ (5) wp.org #18 ↑1 19 Easy Digital Downloads Digital Signature 60+ · 3.0★ (4) wp.org #21 2 too low 20 Playard — Sports Facility Booking System for Courts, Fields, Pitches, Venues and More 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↑4 1 too high 21 Electronic Signature Add-on for Fluent Forms 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 6 too high 22 LegalWeb Cloud 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 6 too high 23 Court Booking System — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Tabby Checkout 4K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↓1 7 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.