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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “linked variation”

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 “linked variation”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 7 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

WPC Variations Table for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 500+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Duplicate Post places #2 on merit, 4.9★ from 1623 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 WPC Linked Variation for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.7★ (15) wp.org #1 2 Duplicate Post 300K+ · 4.9★ (1623) wp.org #18 16 too low 3 Linked Variations for WooCommerce – Link Separate Products by Attribute with Swatches, Quick View & Shortcodes 500+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 WPC Product Bundles for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.4★ (220) wp.org #8 4 too low 5 Booster for WooCommerce – PDF Invoices, Abandoned Cart, Variation Swatches & 100+ Tools 30K+ · 4.6★ (535) wp.org #11 6 too low 6 WPC Variations Radio Buttons for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 WPC Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (10) wp.org #3 4 too high 8 Linked Variation for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #6 2 too high 9 WPC Composite Products for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.6★ (76) wp.org #12 ↑1 3 too low 10 WPC Frequently Bought Together for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (84) wp.org #13 ↑1 3 too low 11 WPC Additional Variation Images for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #4 7 too high 12 WPC Grouped Product for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.9★ (27) wp.org #19 ↑2 7 too low 13 AI Product Gallery Slider, Additional Variation Images, Product Video, Product Image Zoom and Lightbox for WooCommerce – WPBean 1K+ · 4.3★ (27) wp.org #16 ↑1 3 too low 14 MKL Product Configurator for WooCommerce – 2D & 3D Live Preview 2K+ · 4.8★ (42) wp.org #23 ↑1 9 too low 15 Variation Monster – Product Variation Swatches for WooCommerce 10+ · 4.8★ (8) wp.org #17 ↑2 2 too low 16 Google for WooCommerce 800K+ · 2.7★ (268) wp.org #20 4 too low 17 WPC Smart Linked Products – Upsells & Cross-sells for WooCommerce 700+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 10 too high 18 WPC Show Single Variations for WooCommerce 1K+ · 3.3★ (11) wp.org #10 8 too high 19 WPC External Variations for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #14 ↑1 5 too high 20 App Builder – Create Native Android & iOS Apps On The Flight 500+ · 3.9★ (8) wp.org #22 2 too low 21 WPC Force Sells for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #21 ↑2 22 Product Option Kit – Product Options & Addons for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 WPC Variations Table for WooCommerce 500+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #9 14 too high 24 Clever Linked Terms 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↑1 9 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.