wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “emailer”
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 “emailer”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Error Logs Emailer for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #1 but places #6 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 20+ 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.
ApplyOnline – Application Form Builder and Manager 2K+ · 4.1★ (40) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
weForms – Easy Drag & Drop Contact Form Builder For WordPress 10K+ · 4.5★ (111) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 3 too low 3 
Church Admin 900+ · 4.7★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #7 4 too low 4 
Datafeedr API 4K+ · 4.0★ (13) thin reviews
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Form Builder CP 300+ · 4.0★ (4) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 Error Logs Emailer for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #1 5 too high 7 B BuddyPress Group Email Subscription 1K+ · 4.0★ (32) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk
wp.org #13 ↓2 6 too low 8 
Edu Cron Bulk Emailer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 4 too high 9 
URL Emailer – Send emails by URL parameters — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 ↓1 10 
Church Social 50+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↑6 2 too high 11 
SendSquared – Email Marketing, Lead Generation, Popup & Post Emailer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 1 too low 12 
Rentals & Bookings � Solo & Marketplace — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too low 13 W wppt-emailer (WordPress Phil Tanner's Emailer) — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 2 too low 14 
Best WP SMTP Email — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too low 15 
Raffle for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too high 16 
Modern Hotel Booking — Direct Booking Engine, Availability Calendar & Vacation Rental PMS 10+ · 4.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #11 5 too high 17 E Eshop Magic 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 E eShop Order Emailer 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 R RainmakerMoxie 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 1 too low 20 B Bmail 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 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.