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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “directory listing”

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 “directory listing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 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

Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered shows at wp.org #9 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.1★ average from 20 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 738 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) wp.org #1 2 Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504) wp.org #2 ↑2 3 Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (221) wp.org #4 ↑1 5 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #5 ↓2 6 Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445) wp.org #6 7 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625) wp.org #8 ↑3 1 too low 8 Anti-Spam, Spam FireWall by CleanTalk 200K+ · 4.8★ (3221) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 Simple Link Directory – AI Powered 2K+ · 4.8★ (121) wp.org #7 2 too high 10 Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (96) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738) wp.org #23 12 too low 12 Listdom: AI-powered Business Directory with Classifieds Ads Listings 1K+ · 4.9★ (60) wp.org #13 1 too low 13 Simple Business Directory – AI Powered 300+ · 4.9★ (62) wp.org #14 1 too low 14 HireZoot – Job Listings, Career Page & Recruitment Tool 30K+ · 4.8★ (194) wp.org #22 ↓6 8 too low 15 UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183) wp.org #21 6 too low 16 Easy Property Listings 5K+ · 4.7★ (112) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) wp.org #9 ↓1 8 too high 18 WP Map Block – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store & Shop Locator, Directory, Listings & Filters 20K+ · 4.0★ (20) wp.org #11 ↓1 7 too high 19 WP Directory Kit 2K+ · 4.9★ (35) wp.org #16 ↑2 3 too high 20 MembershipWorks – Membership, Events & Directory 2K+ · 4.4★ (37) wp.org #20 21 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #18 ↑1 3 too high 22 Protect Uploads 30K+ · 4.8★ (12) wp.org #17 5 too high 23 aDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Ads Listings Directory 300+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #19 ↓2 4 too high 24 Contact List – Online Staff Directory & Address Book 1K+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #24

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.