wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “gcal”
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 “gcal”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 16. 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
SDAweb Calendar Sync for Google Calendar shows at wp.org #4 but places #11 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 70+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
WCFM – Frontend Manager for WooCommerce places #6 on merit, 4.5★ from 286 reviews, but shows at wp.org #11. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Pretty Google Calendar 4K+ · 4.6★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 
WP BASE Booking of Appointments, Services and Events 100+ · 4.9★ (34)
wp.org #3 1 too low 3 
TicketMachine Event Manager & Calendar 100+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #2 1 too high 4 
Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155)
wp.org #8 4 too low 5 
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397) heavy footprint
wp.org #7 2 too low 6 WCFM – Frontend Manager for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.5★ (286)
wp.org #11 5 too low 7 
Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) thin reviews
wp.org #10 3 too low 8 
Calendar Event Add-on WooCommerce Bookings 100+ · 5.0★ (3) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
Hydrogen Calendar Embeds 1K+ · 4.5★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #9 10 
Legacy Google Calendar Events 2.4 80+ · 4.3★ (8) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 5 too low 11 SDAweb Calendar Sync for Google Calendar 70+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 7 too high 12 
Iconic Delivery Slots: Addon for Google Calendar 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 7 too high 13 W wp-gcal-rss 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 14 G GCal Events List 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
GCal Days 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 1 too high 16 G Google Calendar Widget & Short Code 70+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 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.