wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “hrm”
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 “hrm”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 17. 4 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
WP-HR Manager: The Human Resources Plugin for WordPress shows at wp.org #4 but places #14 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.0★ average from 5 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
ERP: Complete HR, Accounting & CRM Suite Built for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.4★ (149) not PHP-current
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Employee, Leave and Recruitment Management System – Crew HRM 100+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Cloodo WP Workplace – CRM & Project Management for Services Business 100+ · 3.7★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Codersly ERP 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 2 too low 5 
Innovs HR – Complete Human Resource Management System for Your Business 10+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
HR Management Lite 200+ · 3.5★ (2) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
Obydullah Micro ERP — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 2 too low 8 
FlyHR: HR Management & Leave Management, Unlimited Employees — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 2 too low 9 
StoreCashier – POS, Inventory & Business Suite for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 2 too low 10 H HRM Work Tracking 30+ · 3.4★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 3 too low 11 
HRMpilot Room Manager — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
HR Performance 10+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 5 too high 13 
Harvify Redirect Manager — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #15 2 too low 14 WP-HR Manager: The Human Resources Plugin for WordPress 200+ · 2.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 10 too high 15 
WP HRMS 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 S Send email attachment to dropbox 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 T Traffic Lights 60+ · 3.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 3 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.