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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “ical import”

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 “ical import”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 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

Booking Manager – Sync WP Booking Calendar – Import Events, Export Bookings to ICS Calendar shows at wp.org #12 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 973 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #1 2 Import Social Events 3K+ · 4.8★ (116) wp.org #2 3 WP Event Aggregator: Import Eventbrite events, Meetup events, social events and any iCal Events into Event Calendar 1K+ · 4.6★ (54) wp.org #3 4 My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Import Eventbrite Events 3K+ · 4.5★ (52) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) wp.org #8 2 too low 7 Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #18 ↓4 11 too low 8 Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too low 9 SportsPress – Sports Club & League Manager 10K+ · 4.7★ (369) wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too low 10 WP Time Slots Booking Form 1K+ · 5.0★ (41) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Import Meetup Events – Meetup Sync & Event Aggregator for WordPress 300+ · 4.7★ (19) wp.org #7 4 too high 12 Event Organiser 20K+ · 4.6★ (140) wp.org #10 2 too high 13 Events Made Easy 1K+ · 4.6★ (111) wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too low 14 Event Genius – Event Calendar, Event Registration, and Attendee Management 600+ · 4.8★ (17) wp.org #15 ↑7 1 too low 15 Appointment Booking Calendar 1K+ · 4.2★ (92) wp.org #21 ↓1 6 too low 16 Easy Events Calendar : All-in-One Events Calendar with Social Event, Eventbrite, Meetup, Google & iCal Import Support 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 ↑1 11 too high 17 BA Book Everything 10K+ · 4.2★ (20) wp.org #20 ↑3 3 too low 18 CP Multi View Events Calendar 900+ · 4.3★ (46) wp.org #24 6 too low 19 XT Event Widget for Social Events 800+ · 4.5★ (15) wp.org #19 ↓2 20 Vachr Short-Term Rental Reservations 30+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #13 7 too high 21 Host Domination Booking Engine: Calendar Sync & Reservation System 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #22 ↓3 1 too low 22 Open Source Event Calendar 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 ↓1 5 too high 23 Sacconi iCal Sync – WordPress Holiday Rental Calendars & iCal Booking Sync 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 24 Booking Manager – Sync WP Booking Calendar – Import Events, Export Bookings to ICS Calendar 5K+ · 4.0★ (2) wp.org #12 ↓1 12 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.