wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “kauf”
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 “kauf”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 5 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
Novalnet Payment Gateway for Easy Digital Downloads shows at wp.org #3 but places #7 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Novalnet Payment Gateway for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.3★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 
Faktur Pro for WooCommerce 900+ · 4.6★ (32) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 6 too low 3 
WP2LEADS | WordPress und KlickTipp einfach verbinden – WooCommerce und KlickTipp einfach verbinden 70+ · 4.8★ (13) not PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 7 too low 4 
Fortrydelsesknap.dk Withdrawal Button 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
VereinOnline.org 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
Gravity Forms payment plugin – Novalnet AG 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Novalnet Payment Gateway for Easy Digital Downloads 20+ · 4.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 4 too high 8 
STM Smart Checkout for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 1 too high 9 R RiskCUBE 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 3 too high 10 
MemberPress payment addon – Novalnet AG — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 1 too high 11 
Klassifieds for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 
suchen.tv Streaming Widget — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↑1 1 too low 13 
AboutBuzz Stories Embed — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #11 2 too high 14 W WP Live-Shopping Blue — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑2 1 too low 15 W WP-ZackZack — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too low 16 W WP Live-Shopping — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too low 17 W WP Live-Shopping Caroussel 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↑1 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.