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

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 “lms migration”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 4 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

Tutor LMS – Migration Tool shows at wp.org #3 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

WP Ultimate CSV Importer – WordPress CSV, XML & Excel Import Export places #9 on merit, 4.4★ from 593 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706) wp.org #1 2

Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #2 3

Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) heavy footprint wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too low 4

MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education 10K+ · 4.5★ (487) heavy footprint wp.org #6 2 too low 5

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #8 3 too low 6

LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 1 too high 7

WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #11 4 too low 8

FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250) wp.org #14 ↑4 6 too low 9

WP Ultimate CSV Importer – WordPress CSV, XML & Excel Import Export 20K+ · 4.4★ (593) wp.org #16 ↑1 7 too low 10

FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses 8K+ · 4.8★ (96) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too high 11

Creator LMS – WordPress LMS Plugin for Coaches, Cohorts & Course Creators 100+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 1 too high 12

hCaptcha for WP 70K+ · 4.6★ (88) wp.org #18 ↓3 6 too low 13

Fluent Support – Helpdesk & Customer Support Ticket System 10K+ · 4.6★ (69) wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too low 14

MooWoodle – WordPress Moodle LMS Integration, Sell Moodle Courses via WooCommerce 800+ · 4.3★ (39) wp.org #13 1 too high 15

Tutor LMS – Migration Tool 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #3 ↑1 12 too high 16

Advanced Form Integration — Connect Forms to 300+ Apps 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) wp.org #22 6 too low 17

LearnPress – Backup & Migration Tool 5K+ · 3.0★ (16) thin reviews wp.org #7 10 too high 18

Enable Abilities for MCP 5K+ · 5.0★ (17) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too low 19

PressPrimer Certificate – Certificate Designer & Course Certification for Your LMS 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #12 7 too high 20

Export All Posts, Products, Orders & Users | WP Ultimate Exporter | WordPress CSV Export 6K+ · 3.2★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓2 3 too low 21

GoDAM – Video Hosting for LMS & Online Courses 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #19 2 too high 22 E EasySecure Import Export Courses Learndash 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too high 23

myCred Addons – Ultimate myCred Modules To Support WordPress Gamification and Loyalty Rewards 400+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24 C Custom User Registration Fields for Tutor LMS 300+ · 3.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews 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.