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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “custom order status”

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 “custom order status”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 8 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

Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #8 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 600+ 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

CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce places #6 on merit, 4.9★ from 536 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (578) wp.org #1 2 Advanced Custom Fields (ACF®) 2M+ · 4.5★ (1439) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Custom Order Status Manager for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2130) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce 100K+ · 5.0★ (350) wp.org #10 5 too low 6 CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (536) wp.org #16 10 too low 7 Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5004) wp.org #18 10 too low 9 Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 60K+ · 4.7★ (336) wp.org #13 4 too low 10 Secure Custom Fields 90K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 Intuitive Custom Post Order 400K+ · 4.4★ (140) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 Order Tracking – WordPress Status Tracking Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (73) wp.org #15 3 too low 13 Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (32) wp.org #5 8 too high 14 N Ni WooCommerce Custom Order Status 2K+ · 4.1★ (16) wp.org #6 8 too high 15 Archive Content with Archived Post Status 5K+ · 4.9★ (36) wp.org #24 9 too low 16 Order Status History for WooCommerce 900+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #19 3 too low 17 Advanced Custom Stock Status 8K+ · 4.2★ (37) wp.org #17 18 MB Custom Post Types & Custom Taxonomies 10K+ · 4.7★ (13) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 WC Cancel Order 5K+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #23 4 too low 20 Order Status Control for WooCommerce 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #9 11 too high 21 Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 13 too high 22 YITH WooCommerce Order & Shipment Tracking 7K+ · 3.7★ (15) wp.org #20 2 too high 23 EU Order Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.6★ (7) wp.org #21 2 too high 24 SDP Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 13 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.