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

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 “learndash”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 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

Manual Completions for LearnDash shows at wp.org #8 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 200+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.5★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WPO365 | SEAMLESS WORDPRESS + MICROSOFT INTEGRATION (WPO365 | LOGIN) places #7 on merit, 4.9★ from 154 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash 20K+ · 4.8★ (105) wp.org #1 2 Spectra Legacy – Gutenberg Blocks 1M+ · 4.7★ (1872) wp.org #4 ↑2 2 too low 3 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) wp.org #7 ↓2 4 too low 4 PowerPack for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #2 2 too high 5 LoginWP (Formerly Peter's Login Redirect) 80K+ · 4.8★ (503) wp.org #17 ↑3 12 too low 6 Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense 90K+ · 4.9★ (1463) wp.org #19 13 too low 7 WPO365 | SEAMLESS WORDPRESS + MICROSOFT INTEGRATION (WPO365 | LOGIN) 10K+ · 4.9★ (154) wp.org #21 14 too low 8 FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250) wp.org #22 14 too low 9 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #14 ↑3 5 too low 10 Presto Player 100K+ · 4.8★ (346) wp.org #24 ↓3 14 too low 11 Custom Template for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #3 8 too high 12 Visibility Control for LearnDash 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too high 13 WidgetKit for Elementor – Lightweight Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 7K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #20 ↓2 7 too low 14 Widget Areas for LearnDash 600+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #15 ↓2 1 too low 15 Easy Dash for LearnDash 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #6 ↓2 9 too high 16 E EasySecure Import Export Courses Learndash 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #5 ↑4 11 too high 17 CS-Login | ورود پیامکی، گوگل، ووکامرس، LearnDash و OTP 400+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #16 ↓1 1 too high 18 Autocomplete LearnDash Lessons and Topics 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 6 too high 19 Toolkit for LearnDash LMS – Quiz Themes, Analytics & Answer Control 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↑1 10 too high 20 Topic Progression Using Storyline/Captivate for LearnDash 400+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #11 9 too high 21 Spotlightr – Secure Video Hosting for WordPress, Courses & LearnDash 200+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 ↑1 8 too high 22 Manual Completions for LearnDash 200+ · 2.5★ (2) wp.org #8 ↓1 14 too high 23 Show Certificates Anywhere for LearnDash 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↓2 5 too high 24 Manage Enrollment for LearnDash 400+ · 1.0★ (2) wp.org #23 ↓4 1 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.