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

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 “im”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 2 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

FLIZpay Gateway für WooCommerce shows at wp.org #11 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 70+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Order On Mobile for WooCommerce places #4 on merit, 4.9★ from 66 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WP Downgrade | Specific Core Version 100K+ · 4.8★ (169) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 PrivacyBee – Datenschutz im Autopilot 800+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 Notification for Telegram 4K+ · 4.9★ (71) wp.org #7 ↑1 4 too low 4 Order On Mobile for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.9★ (66) wp.org #14 10 too low 5 Custom Query Blocks 700+ · 4.6★ (25) wp.org #9 4 too low 6 affiliate-toolkit – Multi-Network Affiliate & Amazon Product Display 2K+ · 4.5★ (22) wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7 Contact Form to Any API 8K+ · 5.0★ (28) wp.org #13 6 too low 8 Webling 500+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 WP2LEADS | WordPress und KlickTipp einfach verbinden – WooCommerce und KlickTipp einfach verbinden 70+ · 4.8★ (13) wp.org #16 ↑3 7 too low 10 releva.nz | Dynamisches Retargeting 70+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #10 11 de_DE 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 6 too high 12 IMS Countdown 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 9 too high 13 Panorama – Turn Photos into Immersive Virtual Tours 2K+ · 4.3★ (9) wp.org #23 ↓2 10 too low 14 Dr. Flex 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 10 too high 15 IMS Woo Ajax Cart Count 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #15 16 Chatroll Live Chat 200+ · 4.0★ (5) wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too low 17 VG WORT METIS 1K+ · 2.6★ (14) wp.org #18 ↑6 1 too low 18 muv – Hide Preview 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 Bastora Security Audit 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↓1 7 too high 20 W wpShopGermany IT-RECHT KANZLEI 500+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓2 21 Lime Talk Live Chat 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓1 22 Image AI Labels 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↑1 23 Unused Media Checker 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24 FLIZpay Gateway für WooCommerce 70+ · 3.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑1 13 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.