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

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 “kostenlos”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 4 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 #2 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 22 places. Its 80+ 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.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WP Downgrade | Specific Core Version 100K+ · 4.8★ (169) wp.org #1 2

affiliate-toolkit – Multi-Network Affiliate & Amazon Product Display 2K+ · 4.5★ (22) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #4 2 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 #8 5 too low 4

VG WORT METIS 1K+ · 2.6★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #7 3 too low 5

Faktur Pro for WooCommerce 900+ · 4.6★ (32) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #24 ↓2 19 too low 6

dejure.org Vernetzungsfunktion 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #5 1 too high 7

Vereinsantrag Formular 90+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 1 too high 8

rapidmail: Newsletter & E-Mail Marketing for WooCommerce 400+ · 2.3★ (3) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 5 too high 9

MÜLLweg! DE 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #9 10

payever Checkout – Composable Payment Gateway 800+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #10 11

Tebuto – Online-Terminbuchung — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 ↓1 12

DIMEDIAL Robbie – Social Media Assistant — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↓1 13

BarrierEase 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 14

suchen.tv Streaming Widget — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 15

Kein Produkt-Zoom Woo 30+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓2 7 too low 16

Beitrag Steward — Mitgliedsbeiträge & SEPA-Lastschrift für Vereine — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17

tymok – Terminbuchung & Buchungskalender (DSGVO, Hosting in DE) — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too high 18 I incert Voucher Management System — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19

Deinwebseitenchat – DSGVO-konformer KI-Chatbot für deine Website — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too high 20

Gemeindetresor – geschützte Ablage für FeG-Gemeinden — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #19 1 too high 21

WebsiteFix One-Click Performance Optimizer — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓2 1 too high 22

KokobeoChat – AI Live Chat, Chatbot & Multi-Channel Support Widget — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 1 too low 23

SHOPVOTE 400+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓2 2 too high 24

FLIZpay Gateway für WooCommerce 80+ · 3.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #2 22 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.