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

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 “equation”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 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

Calculate BMR and BMI shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.5★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

NEX-Forms – Ultimate Forms Plugin for WordPress places #7 on merit, 4.1★ from 135 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #1 2 SportsPress – Sports Club & League Manager 10K+ · 4.7★ (369) wp.org #2 3 Solid Mail – SMTP email and logging made by SolidWP 60K+ · 4.2★ (52) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 KaTeX 2K+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 S Simple Mathjax 4K+ · 4.7★ (14) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 WPMathPub 300+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 NEX-Forms – Ultimate Forms Plugin for WordPress 5K+ · 4.1★ (135) wp.org #15 ↓2 8 too low 8 Calculation for contact form 7 1K+ · 4.5★ (22) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Zigaform – Price Calculator & Cost Estimation Form Builder Lite 100+ · 4.6★ (23) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 Maximum Products per User for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.6★ (42) wp.org #16 6 too low 11 Calculator Builder – Create an Online Calculator 1K+ · 4.7★ (18) wp.org #12 1 too low 12 Grid Gallery – for Photo Gallery, Image Gallery & Portfolio 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #9 3 too high 13 W WP QuickLaTeX 4K+ · 4.6★ (31) wp.org #18 ↓3 5 too low 14 PressPrimer Quiz – AI Quiz Maker, Exam Builder & LMS Assessment Plugin 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #19 ↓2 5 too low 15 Calorie Calculator 100+ · 3.4★ (10) wp.org #14 ↑9 1 too high 16 Glyphwell – Visual Equation Editor 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #7 9 too high 17 CFF Fitness and Health Operations 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 9 too high 18 BrainCert Virtual Classroom 10+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #17 ↓3 1 too high 19 CFF Area and Perimeter Operations 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓2 1 too low 20 NEX-Forms ADD ON – Digital Signatures 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 NEX-Forms ADD ON – Form Themes 1K+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 Smart Sale Scheduler for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓4 1 too low 23 Calculate BMR and BMI 200+ · 3.5★ (2) wp.org #13 10 too high 24 Contact Camo 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓2

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.