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

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 “fare”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 of the top 20. 3 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

MailUp for WordPress – Email and Newsletter Subscription Form shows at wp.org #6 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.7★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

F

Buried gem

FeedWordPress places #10 on merit, 4.2★ from 61 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 E-cab Taxi Booking Manager for Woocommerce 2K+ · 4.9★ (28) wp.org #1 2 Cab Grid 100+ · 4.4★ (19) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 VikRentItems Flexible Rental Management System 600+ · 4.0★ (8) wp.org #3 4 The School Management – Education & Learning ERP 700+ · 4.5★ (15) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 Bus Ticket Booking with Seat Reservation 700+ · 4.9★ (41) wp.org #17 12 too low 6 Cab fare calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 ANAC XML Bandi di Gara 500+ · 4.9★ (17) wp.org #20 13 too low 8 DMS Shortcode Module For Divi 60+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #4 4 too high 9 Easy Fattura Elettronica FREE 100+ · 4.9★ (28) wp.org #19 10 too low 10 F FeedWordPress 8K+ · 4.2★ (61) wp.org #21 11 too low 11 TaxiWebBooker 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 4 too high 12 MagePeople Ferry Booking System — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 TaxiAppli Réservations — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 4 too high 14 Chauffeur Booking 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 4 too high 15 ACS Freight Calculator — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 3 too high 16 S SmartCab Booking Lite — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 3 too high 17 MailUp for WordPress – Email and Newsletter Subscription Form 2K+ · 2.7★ (3) wp.org #6 11 too high 18 Easy WooCommerce Tracking Code Free 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #22 4 too low 19 M MYF Fleet Booking Widget — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 5 too high 20 Fastcache by Host.it 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #23 3 too low 21 DeadPress 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 MagePeople Shuttle Booking – Airport Shuttle, Transfer & Route Booking for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 7 too high 23 Dropit – Deliver with Ease — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 7 too high 24 Email Marketing 4Dem 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 6 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.