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

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 “estimate”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 4 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

Formidable Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions shows at wp.org #8 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Stylish Cost Calculator – Quote Generator, Lead Gen & Price Estimator places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 175 reviews, but shows at wp.org #24. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27821) wp.org #1 2 Sprout Invoices – Client Invoicing & Estimates 1K+ · 4.4★ (191) wp.org #2 3 Relevanssi – A Better Search 100K+ · 4.8★ (406) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 Estimated delivery date per product for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.3★ (83) wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too low 5 Sequential Order Number for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.9★ (146) wp.org #13 ↓1 8 too low 6 Ship Estimate for WooCommerce 100+ · 4.9★ (8) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 Stylish Cost Calculator – Quote Generator, Lead Gen & Price Estimator 1K+ · 4.8★ (175) wp.org #24 ↓3 17 too low 8 Estimated Delivery for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #7 1 too high 9 TI WooCommerce Wishlist 100K+ · 4.7★ (503) wp.org #22 13 too low 10 YITH WooCommerce Wishlist 400K+ · 3.9★ (262) wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too low 11 Integration for WooCommerce and QuickBooks 1K+ · 4.9★ (15) wp.org #16 ↓1 5 too low 12 Mortgage Calculators WP 3K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #12 ↑5 13 RepairBuddy – Repair Shop CRM & Booking Plugin for WordPress 400+ · 4.9★ (24) wp.org #15 ↓1 2 too low 14 Responsive Mortgage Calculator 7K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 Mortgage Calculator 4K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #18 3 too low 16 Price Calculator Block – give customers instant price estimates 200+ · 4.5★ (2) wp.org #6 10 too high 17 YITH Request a Quote for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (66) wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 WPC Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #9 9 too high 19 QuickShipD – Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce 40+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #23 ↓3 4 too low 20 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 – Price Calculator Free 5K+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too low 21 Gravity Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions 70+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #10 11 too high 22 Ninja Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions 50+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23 Formidable Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Estimate Submissions 200+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #8 15 too high 24 PayJustNow for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 13 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.