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

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 “doctor”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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 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

RVS Database Doctor shows at wp.org #3 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 10+ 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

HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin places #10 on merit, 4.9★ from 221 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Hide My WP Ghost – Security & Firewall 100K+ · 4.5★ (373) wp.org #1 2 Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) wp.org #2 3 GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793) wp.org #14 ↑1 10 too low 5 Rearrange Products for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (58) wp.org #5 ↑1 6 Easy Appointments 10K+ · 4.3★ (131) wp.org #7 ↑2 1 too low 7 Responsive Team Members Showcase, Team Grid, Team Slider, and Staff List – Smart Team (formerly WP Team) 5K+ · 4.7★ (92) wp.org #11 4 too low 8 Online Scheduling and Appointment Booking System – Bookly 60K+ · 4.4★ (586) wp.org #19 ↓2 11 too low 9 Team – Team Members Showcase Plugin 10K+ · 4.5★ (67) wp.org #12 ↑2 3 too low 10 HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (221) wp.org #24 ↓1 14 too low 11 Cowboy MCP – Free MCP Server with Undo for Claude & ChatGPT 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #6 ↓1 5 too high 12 Availability Datepicker – Booking Calendar for Contact Form 7 – Input WP 10K+ · 4.1★ (42) wp.org #16 ↓3 4 too low 13 KiviCare – Clinic & Patient Management System (EHR) 1K+ · 3.6★ (23) wp.org #10 3 too high 14 Contact List – Online Staff Directory & Address Book 1K+ · 4.8★ (19) wp.org #20 ↓2 6 too low 15 Search Attributes for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.9★ (9) wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too low 16 Responsive Starter Templates – Elementor Templates & Starter Sites 10K+ · 4.5★ (39) wp.org #22 6 too low 17 VikAppointments Services Booking Calendar 500+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #23 ↓2 6 too low 18 HIPAA Forms 800+ · 4.3★ (9) wp.org #15 ↑4 3 too high 19 RVS Database Doctor 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 16 too high 20 RoarDev Doctor & Therapist Finder 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 ↓1 12 too high 21 Agent Abilities for MCP – Connect Claude and ChatGPT with Permission Controls and Audit Log 800+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #21 ↓1 22 Inspiro Starter Sites – 20+ Free Demo Templates for Gutenberg & Elementor 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↓1 13 too high 23 BMI Adult & Kid Calculator 700+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 5 too high 24 DocBooker – Doctor Appointment Booking for Clinics & Hospitals 80+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↓1 11 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.