wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “events loop”
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 loop”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20.
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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Query Loop Load More shows at wp.org #6 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 17 places. Its 900+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
LiteSpeed Cache places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 2778 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551)
wp.org #1 2 
Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108)
wp.org #2 3 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #3 4 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #8 4 too low 5 
Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140)
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #4 2 too high 7 LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #13 6 too low 8 
WP Event Manager – Events Calendar, Registrations, Sell Tickets with WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.0★ (249)
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588)
wp.org #14 5 too low 10 
Unlimited Elements for Elementor 300K+ · 4.8★ (525)
wp.org #15 5 too low 11 
Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider 500K+ · 4.6★ (743)
wp.org #17 6 too low 12 
Loop Grid Extender for Elementor – ACF Repeater & Smart Filters 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #5 7 too high 13 
Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress 200K+ · 4.6★ (1205)
wp.org #21 8 too low 14 
Kadence Blocks — Page Builder Toolkit for Gutenberg Editor 600K+ · 4.8★ (333)
wp.org #16 2 too low 15 
Tangible: Loops & Logic 2K+ · 4.9★ (39)
wp.org #11 4 too high 16 
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
Sugar Calendar – Events Calendar, Event Tickets, and Events Management Platform 10K+ · 4.5★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #9 8 too high 18 
Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales 500+ · 4.4★ (136)
wp.org #20 2 too low 19 
MembershipWorks – Membership, Events & Directory 2K+ · 4.4★ (37)
wp.org #19 20 
My Tickets – Accessible Event Ticketing 600+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
Event Calendar Newsletter 600+ · 4.8★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #18 3 too high 22 
Events Slider, Events Carousel, Events Grid, Events Timeline and Events Filter Bar for The Events Calendar – Eventful 400+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #12 10 too high 23 Query Loop Load More 900+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #6 17 too high 24 
Event Koi Lite – Events Calendar, Event Management, RSVP, and Tickets 60+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #23 1 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.