wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “locations directory”
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 “locations directory”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 3 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
Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered shows at wp.org #5 but places #13 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 300+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.1★ average from 20 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 8869 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Business Directory Plugin – Easy Listing & Member Directories for WordPress 10K+ · 4.6★ (504)
wp.org #1 2 
Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445)
wp.org #2 3 
GeoDirectory – WP Business Directory Plugin and Classified Listings Directory 10K+ · 4.8★ (716) heavy footprint
wp.org #3 4 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #4 5 
Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) not PHP-current
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Directorist: AI-Powered Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads 20K+ · 4.6★ (698) not PHP-current
wp.org #8 2 too low 7 
HivePress – Business Directory, Listings & Classified Ads Plugin 10K+ · 4.9★ (221)
wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too low 8 
Smush – Image Optimization, Compression, Lazy Load, WebP & CDN 1M+ · 4.8★ (6053)
wp.org #13 ↑4 5 too low 9 
Advanced Classifieds & Directory Pro 2K+ · 4.7★ (96) heavy footprint
wp.org #9 10 
Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too low 11 Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #20 9 too low 12 
UsersWP – Front-end login form, User Registration, User Profile & Members Directory plugin for WP 20K+ · 4.7★ (183)
wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too low 13 Web Directory plugin Free – AI powered 300+ · 4.1★ (20) thin reviews
wp.org #5 8 too high 14 
Stock Locations for WooCommerce 800+ · 4.8★ (53) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 7 too high 15 
Simple Business Directory – AI Powered 300+ · 4.9★ (62)
wp.org #12 3 too high 16 
WP Store Locator 40K+ · 4.8★ (312)
wp.org #19 3 too low 17 
Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1668)
wp.org #23 6 too low 18 
Listdom: AI-powered Business Directory with Classifieds Ads Listings 1K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #17 ↓1 1 too high 19 
GEO my WP 3K+ · 4.6★ (139) not PHP-current
wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20 
Location Weather – WordPress Weather Forecast, Air Quality & Weather Widget 10K+ · 4.5★ (103)
wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 
WP Directory Kit 2K+ · 4.9★ (35) not PHP-current
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
MembershipWorks – Membership, Events & Directory 2K+ · 4.4★ (37)
wp.org #21 ↓1 1 too high 23 
Employee Directory – Staff & Team Directory 100+ · 4.1★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #18 5 too high 24 
Display Event Location for The Events Calendar 90+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓1 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.