wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “meetup api”

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 “meetup api”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 7 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

Login Widget With Shortcode shows at wp.org #11 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 5K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.8★ average from 29 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 172 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

WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #1 2

WP Event Aggregator: Import Eventbrite events, Meetup events, social events and any iCal Events into Event Calendar 1K+ · 4.6★ (54) wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3

Import Meetup Events – Meetup Sync & Event Aggregator for WordPress 300+ · 4.7★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #2 1 too high 4

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current wp.org #4 ↓1 5

EmbedPress 100K+ · 4.8★ (307) not PHP-current wp.org #5 6

The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #8 2 too low 7

Equalize Digital Accessibility Checker – WCAG, ADA, EAA and Section 508 compliance 10K+ · 4.9★ (80) not PHP-current wp.org #6 1 too high 8

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 1 too high 9

Import Social Events 3K+ · 4.8★ (116) wp.org #12 3 too low 10

Maps Plugin using Google Maps for WordPress – WP Google Map 10K+ · 4.8★ (172) wp.org #16 ↑1 6 too low 11

Import Eventbrite Events 3K+ · 4.5★ (52) wp.org #10 1 too high 12

Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #9 3 too high 13

WPZOOM Connect: Social Icons Widget & Block, Share Buttons & Click to Chat 90K+ · 4.9★ (144) wp.org #17 ↓2 4 too low 14

Tickera – Sell Tickets & Manage Events 2K+ · 4.5★ (292) wp.org #20 6 too low 15

Registrations for the Events Calendar – Event Registration Plugin 7K+ · 5.0★ (103) wp.org #19 4 too low 16

Events Shortcodes For The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.9★ (214) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 2 too low 17

Events Widgets For Elementor And The Events Calendar 10K+ · 4.5★ (108) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #14 3 too high 18

EventON – Events Calendar 6K+ · 4.1★ (44) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 6 too high 20

Basic Google Maps Placemarks 2K+ · 4.4★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #23 ↓1 3 too low 21

XT Event Widget for Social Events 800+ · 4.5★ (15) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 6 too high 22

Event Monster – Event Manager, Event Booking, Event Ticket & Registration 600+ · 4.8★ (18) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #21 1 too high 23

Blocks for Eventbrite 1K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too high 24

SureDash – Community, Courses & Member Dashboard 1K+ · 4.3★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #24

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.