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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “estimated time”

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 “estimated time”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

Sam Reading Time shows at wp.org #6 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 70+ 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

CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce places #6 on merit, 4.9★ from 536 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Reading Time WP 20K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #1 2 Read Meter – Reading Time & Progress Bar 10K+ · 4.5★ (19) wp.org #4 2 too low 3 Estimated Delivery for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (13) wp.org #3 4 GTM4WP – A Google Tag Manager (GTM) plugin for WordPress 700K+ · 4.5★ (155) wp.org #10 6 too low 5 WPC Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #2 3 too high 6 CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (536) wp.org #21 ↑1 15 too low 7 Estimated delivery date per product for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.2★ (82) wp.org #8 1 too low 8 WP Reading Progress 3K+ · 5.0★ (19) wp.org #11 3 too low 9 Shipping Live Rates and Access Points for UPS for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.7★ (77) wp.org #19 10 too low 10 Worth The Read 3K+ · 4.3★ (27) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 Shipping Live Rates for FedEx for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.4★ (27) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 Advanced Views – Display Framework for Gutenberg & Elementor 3K+ · 4.8★ (36) wp.org #22 ↑1 10 too low 13 QuickShipD – Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce 30+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 Shipping Simulator for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (40) wp.org #18 4 too low 15 Automated FedEx live/manual rates with shipping labels – HPOS supported 200+ · 4.9★ (12) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 WC – APG Weight Shipping 6K+ · 4.3★ (49) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 Estimated Delivery Date Per Product For WooCommerce 100+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #7 ↓1 10 too high 18 Easy Actions Scheduler Cleaner 900+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Reading Time 200+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #5 14 too high 20 Add Chat App Button 2K+ · 4.8★ (13) wp.org #24 ↓3 4 too low 21 Sam Reading Time 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 ↑1 15 too high 22 YITH WooCommerce Order & Shipment Tracking 7K+ · 3.7★ (15) wp.org #23 ↑1 1 too low 23 Reading time by LavaDESIGN 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 10 too high 24 MinuteRead – Reading Time for Posts 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 9 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.