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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “link locker”

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 “link locker”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade shows at wp.org #1 but places #9 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 100+ 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

Read More Without Refresh places #4 on merit, 4.2★ from 55 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 Maximum, Minimum and Multiple Quantity for WooCommerce Shops 3K+ · 4.4★ (36) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Read More Without Refresh 20K+ · 4.2★ (55) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 Subscribe to Unlock Lite – Opt In Content Locker Plugin for WordPress 500+ · 3.9★ (10) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Multibanco, MB WAY, Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Payshop, and PIX (ifthenpay) for WooCommerce 8K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #10 4 too low 7 Portugal States (Distritos) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #7 8 WCMultiShipping — Mondial Relay, Inpost & Chronopost for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (33) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #1 8 too high 10 Portugal DPD Pickup and Lockers network for WooCommerce 200+ · 4.3★ (4) wp.org #3 7 too high 11 NIF (Num. de Contribuinte Português) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #11 12 Shop as Client for WooCommerce – Manual, Phone & Email Orders 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #19 7 too low 13 Portugal CTT Tracking for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #14 1 too low 14 SamedayCourier Shipping 4K+ · 2.7★ (14) wp.org #15 1 too low 15 GLS Shipping for WooCommerce 2K+ · 3.7★ (6) wp.org #12 3 too high 16 Smartpoints Lockers for ACS 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 7 too high 17 Magic URL Coupon for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 3 too low 18 Social Share Block – Help Visitors Spread Your Content Everywhere 2K+ · 4.3★ (3) wp.org #17 1 too high 19 DPD Baltic Shipping 2K+ · 2.7★ (13) wp.org #23 4 too low 20 Pasts Courier & Locker 50+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 2 too high 21 FOXPOST – Packeta Group 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 5 too high 22 Lead Magnet Locker 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 Shipping with Venipak for WooCommerce 1K+ · 2.3★ (6) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 OPSI Israel Domestic Shipments 300+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24

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.