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

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 “endpoint”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 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 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

Health Endpoint shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini places #5 on merit, 4.9★ from 874 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #1 2 Simple JWT Login – Allows you to use JWT on REST endpoints. 4K+ · 5.0★ (47) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too low 4 WPGet API – Connect to any external REST API 10K+ · 5.0★ (32) wp.org #8 ↓1 4 too low 5 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #19 14 too low 6 WP 2FA – Two-factor authentication for WordPress 100K+ · 4.7★ (184) wp.org #14 8 too low 7 WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312) wp.org #18 ↓7 11 too low 8 WS Form LITE – Drag & Drop Contact Form Builder 10K+ · 5.0★ (322) wp.org #20 ↓5 12 too low 9 LLM Markdown – Markdown Endpoints for AI Agents 700+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 SMNTCS Disable REST API User Endpoints 8K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 8 too high 11 Access Governance for WordPress (aka AAM) 100K+ · 4.2★ (420) wp.org #24 ↓3 13 too low 12 WP REST Cache 10K+ · 4.9★ (42) wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too low 13 Contact Form to Any API 8K+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #16 ↓2 3 too low 14 Advanced IP Blocker 3K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #22 8 too low 15 SysBasics Customize My Account for WooCommerce – Live My Account Customizer 7K+ · 4.2★ (33) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 JumpsuitAI – llms.txt + Markdown Endpoints 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↓1 10 too high 17 Ultimate Endpoints With Rest Api 300+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #12 5 too high 18 Base (formerly BaseLinker) – 300+ marketplaces, 150+ carriers & PIM & OMS & WMS in one 5K+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #11 ↓1 7 too high 19 Health Endpoint 3K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 ↓1 12 too high 20 WooCommerce Tax (formerly WooCommerce Shipping & Tax) 500K+ · 2.0★ (105) wp.org #15 ↑9 5 too high 21 Customize Dokan Dashboard Endpoints 60+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 12 too high 22 WPBuoy Endpoint Manager 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↓1 12 too high 23 Payment Gateway for Authorize.net for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 24 AI Agent by SiteGround 1M+ · 1.7★ (98) wp.org #21 ↓1 3 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.