Plugin Pulse Beta
← Rankings

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

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 “elearning”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 6 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

TutorMate shows at wp.org #5 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 10K+ 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

MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education places #7 on merit, 4.5★ from 487 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #1 2 LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #2 3 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #3 4 LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash 20K+ · 4.8★ (105) wp.org #9 ↑3 4 too low 6 WP Courses LMS – Online Courses Builder, eLearning Courses, Courses Solution, Education Courses 500+ · 4.9★ (22) wp.org #4 ↑4 2 too high 7 MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education 10K+ · 4.5★ (487) wp.org #12 ↑1 5 too low 8 Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too low 9 Fox LMS – eLearning & Course Builder 60+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #7 2 too high 10 MooWoodle – WordPress Moodle LMS Integration, Sell Moodle Courses via WooCommerce 800+ · 4.3★ (39) wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too low 11 Timetics – Appointment Booking Calendar & Scheduling 2K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #16 5 too low 12 Tutor LMS Elementor Addons 30K+ · 3.5★ (8) wp.org #8 ↑1 4 too high 13 Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning 9K+ · 3.5★ (40) wp.org #13 ↑1 14 TutorMate 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 ↑1 9 too high 15 PowerPack for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #23 ↑1 8 too low 16 Add From Server Lite 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #21 ↓2 5 too low 17 Topic Progression Using Storyline/Captivate for LearnDash 400+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #10 ↑1 7 too high 18 LifterLMS Labs 2K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #20 ↑3 2 too low 19 Tutor LMS – Migration Tool 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #18 ↑2 1 too high 20 PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↑2 5 too high 21 LearnPress – Course Wishlist 10K+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #19 ↑2 2 too high 22 Tutor LMS Divi Modules 1K+ · 2.3★ (9) wp.org #22 23 CourseGlade LMS – Online Course & eLearning Platform 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 LearnPress – Prerequisites Courses 5K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 ↑1 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.