wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “e scott”

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 “e scott”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 5 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

e-SCOTT Smart pro for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #3 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP places #3 on merit, 4.9★ from 79 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 signals wp.org

Welcart e-Commerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Configure SMTP 6K+ · 4.9★ (45) closure risk stale but ranked wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too low 3

Headers Security Advanced & HSTS WP 90K+ · 4.9★ (79) wp.org #8 ↓1 5 too low 4

Discounts & Promotions Automation 90+ · 4.7★ (23) thin reviews wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5

Avatar Privacy 1K+ · 5.0★ (25) closure risk stale but ranked wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6

FoxyShop 70+ · 4.5★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too high 7

Allow Multiple Accounts 9K+ · 5.0★ (22) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 7 too low 8

e-SCOTT Smart light for WooCommerce 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 ↓1 6 too high 9

Plugin Security Scanner 700+ · 4.9★ (7) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 3 too low 10

e-SCOTT Smart pro for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 ↓1 7 too high 11

Redirect to Homepage 200+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓1 12 T Table of Contents Creator 300+ · 5.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓1 8 too low 13

Add TikTok Pixel for WooCommerce 200+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #9 ↓1 4 too high 14

DropStream – Automated eCommerce Fulfillment 80+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #10 ↓1 4 too high 15

Eazy HTML5 Elements 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 A ATag 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too low 17 M Meta Extension 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 S SyHi 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 A Active Directory Authentication Integration 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20

Widgets Avalanche for Ecwid 20+ · 2.0★ (4) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 5 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.