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

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 certificate”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20.

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

Show Certificates Anywhere for LearnDash shows at wp.org #6 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 30+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes places #6 on merit, 4.8★ from 393 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. 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 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #2 3 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #5 2 too low 4 SAML Single Sign On – SSO Login 10K+ · 4.9★ (402) wp.org #18 14 too low 5 WPO365 | SEAMLESS WORDPRESS + MICROSOFT INTEGRATION (WPO365 | LOGIN) 10K+ · 4.9★ (154) wp.org #17 ↓2 12 too low 6 LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #22 16 too low 7 PowerPack for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) wp.org #14 6 too low 9 WidgetKit for Elementor – Lightweight Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 7K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 SureForms – Contact Form Builder, AI Forms, Payment Form, Survey & Quiz 500K+ · 4.8★ (102) wp.org #19 ↓3 9 too low 11 Uncanny Automator – AI + Automation for WordPress | AI Agent, AI Page Builder, Free AI Usage Included 40K+ · 4.9★ (157) wp.org #20 ↓1 9 too low 12 Visibility Control for LearnDash 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #9 3 too high 13 ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) wp.org #15 2 too low 14 PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #3 11 too high 15 Creator LMS – WordPress LMS Plugin for Coaches, Cohorts & Course Creators 100+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #23 ↓6 8 too low 16 LearnPress – Backup & Migration Tool 5K+ · 3.0★ (16) wp.org #12 4 too high 17 Autocomplete LearnDash Lessons and Topics 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #10 7 too high 18 Academic Certificate Verification – Certificate Management & Certificate Validator 80+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 11 too high 19 Toolkit for LearnDash LMS – Quiz Themes, Analytics & Answer Control 80+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 11 too high 20 Show Certificates Anywhere for LearnDash 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 14 too high 21 Tutor LMS – Migration Tool 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #21 22 Vital Addons for LearnDash — · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #24 ↓1 2 too low 23 Accredible LearnDash Add-on 60+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 ↑4 7 too high 24 CourseRelay – SCORM Support for LearnDash LMS 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 11 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.