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

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

ThePerfectWedding.nl Widget shows at wp.org #6 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 300+ 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

WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection places #6 on merit, 4.6★ from 213 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 morkva UA Shipping – Nova Poshta, Ukrposhta, Rozetka, Nova Global 1K+ · 4.9★ (29) wp.org #1 2 Super Advent Calendar 300+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #2 ↓1 3 Royal Mail Shipping Calculator for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.4★ (8) wp.org #3 ↓1 4 Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292) wp.org #14 ↓3 10 too low 5 Event Tickets with Ticket Scanner 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) wp.org #8 ↓3 3 too low 6 WPBruiser Security – No CAPTCHA Anti-Spam & Login Protection 10K+ · 4.6★ (213) wp.org #22 16 too low 7 WebwinkelKeur: Webshop keurmerk & reviews for WordPress 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too high 8 Stylish Price List – Price Table Builder & QR Code Restaurant Menu 3K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #20 ↓3 12 too low 9 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #13 ↑5 4 too low 10 Lord of the Files: Enhanced Upload Security 1K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #10 ↓3 11 My Tickets – Accessible Event Ticketing 600+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #15 ↓3 4 too low 12 WP Login Door 400+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #7 ↓1 5 too high 13 WPC Smart Wishlist for WooCommerce 100K+ · 4.8★ (34) wp.org #12 ↓2 1 too high 14 FluentAuth – Login Security, Two-Factor Authentication, Passkeys & Social Login 10K+ · 4.1★ (35) wp.org #17 ↑4 3 too low 15 YayExtra – WooCommerce Extra Product Options 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) wp.org #24 ↓4 9 too low 16 Enable Abilities for MCP 5K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #23 ↓4 7 too low 17 Deliver via Shipos for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 ↓1 12 too high 18 Admin login URL Change 2K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #11 ↓2 7 too high 19 Flipbox Addon for Elementor 600+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 10 too high 20 Venuera – Event Tickets for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #21 ↓5 1 too low 21 Sendle Shipping Plugin 700+ · 3.2★ (9) wp.org #19 ↓5 2 too high 22 Protect Login 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #18 ↓3 4 too high 23 ThePerfectWedding.nl Widget 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 17 too high 24 ShipAny WooCommerce: Ship, Label, Tracking 200+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓3 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.