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

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 “homework”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

LearnPress – BuddyPress Integration shows at wp.org #4 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 20 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Security Ninja – WordPress Security & Firewall 7K+ · 4.7★ (101) wp.org #3 2 too low 2 The School Management – Education & Learning ERP 700+ · 4.5★ (15) wp.org #2 3 PressPrimer Assignment – Homework Submission, Document Viewer & LMS Grading Workflows 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #1 2 too high 4 Better Click To Share – Shareable Quote Boxes for X (Twitter) 6K+ · 4.8★ (48) wp.org #20 ↓1 16 too low 5 Todo for BuddyPress & BuddyBoss 100+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 Evergreen Content Poster – Auto Post and Schedule Your Best Content to Social Media 90+ · 4.1★ (13) wp.org #10 4 too low 7 ClassPress – Classroom & School Management Plugin for WordPress 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #6 1 too high 8 Hopelessly Sensible: Simple Security Hardening 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 3 too high 9 Universal Unit Converter: Convert Length, Weight, Temperature, Speed, and Time 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 Open Access SSO 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Marivya Tutor Manager — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #11 12 WeBWorK Q&A — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 13 AccessMate – Accessibility Scanner with AI Suggestions and Lightweight Toolbar. WCAG, ADA & EAA 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 14 VybeDraft Post Automator — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 15 BSX File Exchange — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 1 too low 16 PMS Chat AI Lite — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 Trill AI Product Chat for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 1 too low 18 GreenScript PressBot – AI Chatbot & Site Agent — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓2 1 too low 19 TrueCommunity – Community & LMS: Social Network, Groups, Courses & Quizzes — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 4 too high 20 Bastian Assistant — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too low 21 EchoAI – AI Chat Assistant 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too low 22 JRT AI Agent — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓1 2 too low 23 Tip My Work – HostJane Payments — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 ↓1 24 LearnPress – BuddyPress Integration 1K+ · 1.0★ (3) wp.org #4 20 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.