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

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 lms”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 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 #10 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 11 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

LoginWP (Formerly Peter's Login Redirect) places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 503 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 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #1 2 Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) wp.org #2 3 Uncanny Toolkit for LearnDash 20K+ · 4.8★ (105) wp.org #3 4 LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #11 7 too low 5 LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) wp.org #7 ↓2 2 too low 6 Bit integrations – Form Integration, Webhook, Spreadsheets, CRM, LMS & Email Automation 20K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #12 6 too low 7 LoginWP (Formerly Peter's Login Redirect) 80K+ · 4.8★ (503) 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 #20 12 too low 9 PowerPack for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.8★ (5) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 WidgetKit for Elementor – Lightweight Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 7K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #17 ↓1 7 too low 11 Visibility Control for LearnDash 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 Custom Template for LearnDash 1K+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #5 ↑1 7 too high 13 Creator LMS – WordPress LMS Plugin for Coaches, Cohorts & Course Creators 100+ · 5.0★ (16) wp.org #24 ↓7 11 too low 14 Toolkit for LearnDash LMS – Quiz Themes, Analytics & Answer Control 70+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #6 ↑1 8 too high 15 Tutor LMS – Migration Tool 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #8 7 too high 16 E EasySecure Import Export Courses Learndash 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 7 too high 17 Easy Dash for LearnDash 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 3 too high 18 Autocomplete LearnDash Lessons and Topics 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↑3 3 too high 20 Topic Progression Using Storyline/Captivate for LearnDash 400+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #15 5 too high 21 Manual Completions for LearnDash 200+ · 2.5★ (2) wp.org #10 11 too high 22 CourseRelay – SCORM Support for LearnDash LMS 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 4 too high 23 Show Certificates Anywhere for LearnDash 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 Manage Enrollment for LearnDash 400+ · 1.0★ (2) wp.org #22 2 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.