wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “events log”

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

Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor shows at wp.org #9 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 15 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 709 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 signals wp.org

Activity Log – Monitor User and Agent Changes 200K+ · 4.3★ (74) wp.org #1 2

WP Activity Log 300K+ · 4.7★ (490) wp.org #2 3

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) heavy footprint wp.org #3 4

Simple History – Track, Log, and Audit WordPress Changes 300K+ · 4.9★ (491) wp.org #4 5

Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793) wp.org #8 3 too low 6

Registrations for the Events Calendar – Event Registration Plugin 7K+ · 5.0★ (103) wp.org #7 1 too low 7 E Error Log Monitor 20K+ · 4.3★ (48) wp.org #5 2 too high 8

Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528) wp.org #10 2 too low 9

Log cleaner for Kadence Security 7K+ · 5.0★ (22) thin reviews wp.org #6 3 too high 10

All-In-One Security (AIOS) – Security and Firewall 1M+ · 4.7★ (1720) wp.org #14 4 too low 11

Import Social Events 3K+ · 4.8★ (116) wp.org #12 1 too low 12

Easy WP SMTP – WordPress SMTP and Email Logs: Gmail SMTP, Office 365, Outlook, Custom SMTP, and more 500K+ · 4.6★ (709) wp.org #19 7 too low 13

WP Mail SMTP by WPForms – SMTP for Reliable Email Delivery with Gmail, Outlook, Amazon SES, Brevo, Other SMTP & More 4M+ · 4.8★ (5209) wp.org #23 10 too low 14

WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249) wp.org #16 2 too low 15

Activity Log Pro – User Activity Log, Audit Log & Security Monitor 400+ · 5.0★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #9 6 too high 16

Import Eventbrite Events 3K+ · 4.5★ (52) wp.org #13 3 too high 17

EventPrime – Events Calendar, Bookings, Tickets & AI 7K+ · 4.4★ (85) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 6 too high 18

Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012) wp.org #20 2 too low 19

Stream – Activity Log & Audit Trail 70K+ · 4.3★ (76) wp.org #21 2 too low 20

Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #15 5 too high 21

301 Redirects & 404 Error Log 30K+ · 4.6★ (28) wp.org #24 3 too low 22

Tockify Events Calendar 2K+ · 4.5★ (20) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #17 5 too high 23

XT Event Widget for Social Events 800+ · 4.5★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #18 5 too high 24

User Activity Tracking and Log 2K+ · 3.5★ (34) wp.org #22 2 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.