wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “getpaid”
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 “getpaid”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 14. 5 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
GetPaid > Wallet shows at wp.org #2 but places #8 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 700+ 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
UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP places #5 on merit, 4.7★ from 183 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Payment forms, Buy now buttons, and Invoicing System | GetPaid 5K+ · 4.5★ (46)
wp.org #4 3 too low 2 
Knit Pay – Cashfree, Instamojo, Razorpay, PayPal and more 2K+ · 4.9★ (100)
wp.org #8 6 too low 3 
GetPaid Stripe Payments 2K+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 too high 4 
Affiliate Program Suite — SliceWP Affiliates 10K+ · 4.9★ (111)
wp.org #11 7 too low 5 UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183)
wp.org #14 ↓1 9 too low 6 
Noptin – Newsletter, New Post Notifications & Email Automation 10K+ · 4.5★ (120) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 6 too low 7 
AyeCode Connect 10K+ · 5.0★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 GetPaid > Wallet 700+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 6 too high 9 
GetPaid > Item Inventory 500+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 6 too high 10 
Events Calendar for GeoDirectory 2K+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 3 too high 11 
Quotes Addon for GetPaid 600+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
Bitcoin payments for GetPaid — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 3 too high 13 
wpapps Press 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 3 too high 14 
Tranzly™ – AI Translation & Multilingual 7K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #13 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.