wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “hcard”
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 “hcard”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 17. 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
hCard Widget for WordPress shows at wp.org #7 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #2 3 
My Tickets – Accessible Event Ticketing 600+ · 4.9★ (27)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
IndieWeb 600+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
Simple Directory 10+ · 2.7★ (12) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 4 too low 6 
Job Applicant Tracking & Staff Directory by SwiftCloud 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 H hCard ShortCode 20+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Geo hCard Map 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 E Extended Profile 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #12 3 too low 10 C Community Cloud Plugin 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 W WP-Oomph — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 3 too low 12 M MV ID: Ryzom — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 3 too low 13 W WebFinger Profile — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 M Metaverse ID 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 F Friend Bookmarklet — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 2 too low 16 F Faculty and Staff Directory 10+ · 4.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 6 too high 17 hCard Widget for WordPress 10+ · 3.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #7 10 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.