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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “form locker”

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 “form locker”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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

Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade shows at wp.org #2 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 11 places. Its 100+ 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

Secure Copy Content Protection and Content Locking places #9 on merit, 4.3★ from 62 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 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #1 2 Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 morkva UA Shipping – Nova Poshta, Ukrposhta, Rozetka, Nova Global 1K+ · 4.9★ (29) wp.org #3 4 MailOptin – Popup, Optin Forms & Email Newsletters for Mailchimp, HubSpot, AWeber Etc. 10K+ · 4.8★ (438) wp.org #7 ↓1 3 too low 5 Quill Forms | Conversational Multi Step Forms, Surveys & quizzes 3K+ · 4.8★ (44) wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too low 6 SmartyParcel – DHL Express, GLS, InPost & Nova Post for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.6★ (56) wp.org #13 7 too low 7 Subscribe to Unlock Lite – Opt In Content Locker Plugin for WordPress 500+ · 3.9★ (10) wp.org #5 ↓1 2 too high 8 Portugal States (Distritos) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #8 ↓1 9 Secure Copy Content Protection and Content Locking 20K+ · 4.3★ (62) wp.org #17 ↓1 8 too low 10 NIF (Num. de Contribuinte Português) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too high 11 Popup Builder by Claspo – Email Popup, Spin the Wheel, Exit Intent 1K+ · 5.0★ (40) wp.org #24 13 too low 12 Shop as Client for WooCommerce – Manual, Phone & Email Orders 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #15 ↓1 3 too low 13 Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #2 11 too high 14 ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping Method 800+ · 4.4★ (7) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 SamedayCourier Shipping 4K+ · 2.7★ (14) wp.org #10 ↓1 5 too high 16 GLS Shipping for WooCommerce 2K+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #14 ↓3 2 too high 17 DPD Baltic Shipping 2K+ · 2.7★ (13) wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too low 18 Social Share Block – Help Visitors Spread Your Content Everywhere 2K+ · 4.3★ (3) wp.org #16 ↓1 2 too high 19 FOXPOST – Packeta Group 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↓1 8 too high 20 Lead Magnet Locker 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 Shipping with Venipak for WooCommerce 1K+ · 2.3★ (6) wp.org #20 ↓3 1 too high 22 Ultimate Addons for Elementor Forms 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23 Content Locker for Email Capture 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 Form Locker for Elementor Forms — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 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.