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

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 “easter”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 2 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

Amedea – Unique Design Elements for Elementor shows at wp.org #3 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 500+ 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

Advanced Coupons for WooCommerce – BOGO, Store Credit & WooCommerce Coupons places #7 on merit, 4.4★ from 184 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 HurryTimer – An Scarcity and Urgency Countdown Timer for WordPress & WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.8★ (170) wp.org #4 ↓1 3 too low 2 Product Labels For Woocommerce (Sale Badges) 10K+ · 4.6★ (54) wp.org #2 3 Super Advent Calendar 300+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #1 2 too high 4 MyRewards 2K+ · 4.7★ (58) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Gratisfaction- Loyalty, Rewards , Referral, Birthday and Giveaway Program 600+ · 4.8★ (205) wp.org #7 ↓1 2 too low 6 Coupon Shortcodes for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.9★ (17) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 Advanced Coupons for WooCommerce – BOGO, Store Credit & WooCommerce Coupons 20K+ · 4.4★ (184) wp.org #11 4 too low 8 WP Date and Time Shortcode 10K+ · 4.9★ (31) wp.org #8 ↓1 9 Scratch & Win – Giveaways and Contests. Boost subscribers, traffic, repeat visits, referrals, sales and more 100+ · 4.7★ (30) wp.org #10 ↓2 1 too low 10 Social Boost: Giveaways, Instant win and Contests. Grow followers, shares, subscribers, traffic, referrals, sales and more 100+ · 5.0★ (25) wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too low 11 Gratisfaction- Contests Giveaways Referral Loyalty Rewards and Birthdays Program 20+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too low 12 Dynamic QR Code – generator 5K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #12 ↓2 13 Better Badge – Custom Product Badges for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 Amedea – Unique Design Elements for Elementor 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 ↓2 11 too high 15 Doko Bundle Builder : The Ultimate dynamic bundle builder for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #22 ↓2 7 too low 16 FeastBell – Feast & Event Calendar 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too high 17 Multidots Festive Holiday & Seasonal Effects 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 Season Spark 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too low 19 Secret Image Slide and Tune 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 Festivello 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 T Thomas the Bear — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 2 too low 22 DigiFest — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 Seasonal Popup — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 Seasonal Effects & Notice Bar (formerly Halloween Animations) 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↓3 7 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.