wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “meditation”
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 “meditation”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 2 of the top 17. 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
Chakra test shows at wp.org #8 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its 10+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
MP3 Audio Player – Music Player, Podcast Player & Radio by Sonaar 20K+ · 4.8★ (302) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Fetch Meditation 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
12 Step Meeting List 900+ · 5.0★ (28)
wp.org #13 ↓2 10 too low 4 
Free Trial Coupon for WooCommerce Subscriptions 200+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
SUBRE – Product Subscription for WooCommerce – Recurring Payments 200+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6 
Noniko Daily Meditation Companion — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 ↓1 1 too high 7 
Fetch SPAD 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 ↓1 1 too high 8 
MP3 VPlayer 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too high 9 
Retreat Booking Guru Connect 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #9 ↓1 10 
OxyLeaf – Working and Relaxing App (SaaS ready) — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 11 
SoftIcon Ready-Made Template — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 12 Chakra test 10+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #8 ↓1 4 too high 13 
Gather Grove Booking — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓2 1 too high 14 P Plugin Name: Hello Dhamma — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓2 2 too low 15 P Psygraph — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓2 16 
Flex HSA/FSA Payments 30+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓2 2 too high 17 
Absolute Happiness — · 3.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓2 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.