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← Rankings

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

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 “eval”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

Lagersystem.dk: Parcelpickup locator for Woocommerce shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 30+ 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

Oliver POS – WooCommerce POS for iPhone, iPad & Android places #9 on merit, 4.2★ from 90 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 BBQ Firewall – Fast & Powerful Firewall Security 100K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #1 2 WP Console – WordPress PHP Console powered by PsySH 20K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #2 3 Enable Abilities for MCP 5K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #3 4 CURCY – Multi Currency for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.3★ (227) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 Widget Visibility Control 200+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 CartSuite – Cart All In One For WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.5★ (51) wp.org #9 ↑1 3 too low 7 Atlant Security 700+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #8 ↑1 1 too low 8 Coupzy Coupon Box for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.6★ (37) wp.org #11 ↑2 3 too low 9 Oliver POS – WooCommerce POS for iPhone, iPad & Android 700+ · 4.2★ (90) wp.org #17 ↑2 8 too low 10 Protector – Malware Removal, Firewall & Core Repair 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 ↑1 4 too high 11 BotBlocker Security – Complete security platform 3K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #13 ↓2 2 too low 12 ALD Login Page 30+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #10 ↑2 2 too high 13 Query All The Post Types 30+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too low 14 Fleet Agent Site Manager – Securely Connects Your Sites to a WPMgr Dashboard 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too low 15 Custom Code 100+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #20 ↑1 5 too low 16 WebMax Accessibility for WCAG, Section 508, ADA, EAA Compliance — · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 COMPE – WooCommerce Compare Products 30+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too low 18 Deep Malware Cleaner 70+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 ↑1 4 too high 19 Lagersystem.dk: Parcelpickup locator for Woocommerce 30+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #7 ↑1 12 too high 20 Profound Agent Analytics 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↑1 3 too low 21 Content Guard Pro – Database Malware Scanner & SEO Spam Detector 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 3 too high 22 BroodWeb Malware Scanner 10+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↑1 23 T Threat Scan Plugin 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↑1 2 too high 24 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 80+ · 2.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↑2 12 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.