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

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 “divisions”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20.

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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Cost Calculator for WPForms shows at wp.org #12 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI places #4 on merit, 4.8★ from 202 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #1 2 Calculation for contact form 7 1K+ · 4.5★ (22) wp.org #2 3 Cost Calculator Builder 20K+ · 4.5★ (393) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 6K+ · 4.8★ (202) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 The Events Calendar Shortcode & Block 10K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #9 4 too low 6 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 – Price Calculator Free 5K+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #4 2 too high 7 Slider Hero with Video Background, Animation 3K+ · 4.8★ (34) wp.org #17 10 too low 8 Cost Calculator for Elementor 500+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #3 5 too high 9 IP2Location Tags 200+ · 3.7★ (9) wp.org #7 2 too high 10 Automated FedEx live/manual rates with shipping labels – HPOS supported 200+ · 4.9★ (12) wp.org #15 5 too low 11 Interactive Divisional Maps Bangladesh 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 6 too high 12 Parcel2Go Shipping 200+ · 2.6★ (13) wp.org #13 1 too low 13 Cost Calculator & Cost Estimation 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 1 too low 14 Spexo Addons for Elementor – Elementor Widgets, Mega Menu, Popup Builder, Template Kits and Starter Templates for Elementor 6K+ · 4.8★ (4) wp.org #19 5 too low 15 Scoremer: Football Livescore, Tables and Fixtures 80+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 5 too high 16 AnWP Sports Leagues – Basketball, Ice Hockey, Handball, Rugby & More 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 17 LIS – Order Division for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 6 too high 18 BCloud Elementor Form Extender – Add/Edit Post Types From Frontend | Adds Range & Calculated Fields 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 3 too low 19 Daleel – Arabic States for WooCommerce 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 1 too high 20 SKT Blocks – Gutenberg based Page Builder 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 2 too low 21 Ramadan Countdown 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 2 too low 22 Cost Calculator for WPForms 100+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #12 10 too high 23 LTL Freight Quotes – TForce Edition 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 3 too high 24 Envíos Coordinadora Woocommerce (Oficial) – WordPress plugin 600+ · 2.5★ (4) 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.