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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “loan”

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 “loan”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

Loan Calculator shows at wp.org #4 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 15 places. Its 400+ 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

Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More places #5 on merit, 4.9★ from 973 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 Loan Calculator WP 2K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #1 2 Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2143) wp.org #5 ↓2 3 too low 3 Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (807) wp.org #10 ↓4 7 too low 4 Formidable Forms – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder 300K+ · 4.8★ (1387) wp.org #13 ↓4 9 too low 5 Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #22 ↓12 17 too low 6 Loan Comparison 300+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 Cost Calculator Builder 20K+ · 4.5★ (393) wp.org #21 ↓3 14 too low 8 Responsive Mortgage Calculator 7K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #11 ↓3 3 too low 9 Mortgage Calculator 1K+ · 3.9★ (13) wp.org #9 10 Ultimate Loan & Mortgage Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #6 ↓2 4 too high 11 Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79) wp.org #17 ↓6 6 too low 12 Mortgage Calculator 4K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #12 ↑5 13 AC’s Loan Calculator 400+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #3 ↑4 10 too high 14 WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, WordPress Automation, AI Services 5K+ · 4.7★ (124) wp.org #24 ↓3 10 too low 15 Mortgage Calculators WP 3K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #14 1 too high 16 Calculator Builder – Create an Online Calculator 1K+ · 4.7★ (18) wp.org #23 ↓4 7 too low 17 Quick Interest Slider 1K+ · 4.6★ (13) wp.org #19 ↓4 2 too low 18 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 – Price Calculator Free 5K+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #16 2 too high 19 Loan Calculator 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #4 15 too high 20 Simple Mortgage Calculator 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #18 ↓6 2 too high 21 Smart Loan Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 ↓2 14 too high 22 Financial Calculator 400+ · 3.8★ (4) wp.org #20 2 too high 23 AC’s Auto Loan Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↑5 15 too high 24 EMI Calculator 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 ↑5 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.