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

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 “loans”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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 #3 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 14 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 #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144) wp.org #1 ↑1 2 Fluent Forms – Customizable Contact Forms, Survey, Quiz, & Conversational Form Builder 800K+ · 4.8★ (807) wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 Loan Calculator WP 2K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #2 ↓1 1 too high 4 Formidable Forms – Contact Form, Survey, Quiz, Payment, Calculator Form & Custom Form Builder 300K+ · 4.8★ (1388) wp.org #8 ↓2 4 too low 5 Calculated Fields Form – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact, Payment, Quote, Quiz & More 40K+ · 4.9★ (973) wp.org #21 ↓9 16 too low 6 Cost Calculator Builder 20K+ · 4.5★ (393) wp.org #19 ↓6 13 too low 7 Motors – Car Dealership & Classified Listings Plugin 9K+ · 4.5★ (79) wp.org #15 ↓7 8 too low 8 Mortgage Calculator 4K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 Loan Comparison 300+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #5 ↓1 4 too high 10 WPBot – AI ChatBot for Live Support, Lead Generation, WordPress Automation, AI Services 5K+ · 4.7★ (124) wp.org #23 ↓5 13 too low 11 Ultimate Loan & Mortgage Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #7 ↓2 4 too high 12 Mortgage Calculators WP 2K+ · 4.7★ (10) wp.org #12 ↓3 13 Calculator Builder – Create an Online Calculator 1K+ · 4.7★ (18) wp.org #22 ↓7 9 too low 14 Responsive Mortgage Calculator 7K+ · 4.4★ (21) wp.org #24 10 too low 15 Quick Interest Slider 1K+ · 4.6★ (13) wp.org #18 ↓8 3 too low 16 Mortgage Calculator 1K+ · 3.9★ (13) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 Loan Calculator 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 14 too high 18 Cost Calculator for Contact Form 7 – Price Calculator Free 5K+ · 3.8★ (15) wp.org #14 ↓3 4 too high 19 AC’s Loan Calculator 400+ · 3.7★ (3) wp.org #6 ↑8 13 too high 20 Simple Mortgage Calculator 1K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #16 4 too high 21 Financial Calculator 400+ · 3.8★ (4) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 AC’s Auto Loan Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↑10 13 too high 23 Smart Loan Calculator 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↓4 12 too high 24 EMI Calculator 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 11 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.