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

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 “dealer”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 4 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

Inventory Presser – Car Dealer Listings shows at wp.org #4 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 200+ 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

Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots places #9 on merit, 4.8★ from 142 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #1 2 Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79) wp.org #2 3 Easy Google Maps by Supsystic – Custom Markers, Clustering & Map Themes 20K+ · 4.6★ (251) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Auto Listings – Car Listings & Car Dealership Plugin for WordPress 2K+ · 4.3★ (31) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155) wp.org #8 ↑4 3 too low 6 Agile Store Locator 10K+ · 4.9★ (59) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Ultimate Maps by Supsystic – OpenStreetMap, Leaflet & Mapbox, No API Key 10K+ · 4.6★ (86) wp.org #7 8 Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (96) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #19 ↓1 10 too low 10 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #12 ↓2 2 too low 11 AWP Classifieds 3K+ · 4.6★ (301) wp.org #21 ↑1 10 too low 12 Inventory Presser – Car Dealer Listings 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 8 too high 13 Locatoraid Store Locator 1K+ · 4.5★ (17) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 g-FFL Checkout 600+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #9 ↓1 5 too high 15 Product Prices by User Roles for WooCommerce 1K+ · 3.4★ (14) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Progus Store Locator Map (No API Key Required) 30+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #24 ↓5 8 too low 17 Precious Metals Product Prices for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #17 ↓1 18 Financial Calculator 400+ · 3.8★ (4) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 D Directorykit Car Dealer Addon 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 8 too high 20 ThemeREX Auto Dealer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too high 21 Automotive Inventory Importer – Sync Car Dealer Feeds 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 7 too high 22 MatrixMap – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Store Locator & World Maps 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↑4 2 too high 23 Gold Price Live – Gold & Silver Prices, Charts, Widgets, Melt Value Calculator 200+ · 2.5★ (8) wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 EMI Calculator 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 8 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.