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

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 “min”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 6 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

Minimum and Maximum Quantity for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #11 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 3K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 16 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider places #9 on merit, 4.6★ from 743 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 signals wp.org

Min Max Control – Min Max Quantity & Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (79) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 ↑1 2

Min Max Quantities – Set Minimum/Maximum Quantity & Price Limits with Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (60) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #2 ↓1 3

Min and Max Quantity for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.8★ (218) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #3 4

WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617) wp.org #6 2 too low 5

GenerateBlocks 200K+ · 4.9★ (122) wp.org #5 6

Min Max Step Quantity Limits Manager for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 2 too high 7

WPC Product Bundles for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.4★ (220) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 2 too low 8

WP Bulk Delete 90K+ · 4.6★ (131) wp.org #14 6 too low 9

Slider, Gallery, and Carousel by MetaSlider – Image Slider, Video Slider 500K+ · 4.6★ (743) wp.org #21 ↑2 12 too low 10

Order Minimum/Maximum Amount Limits for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 2 too high 11

PiWeb Min/Max Quantity & Minimum Order Limits for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.3★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #7 4 too high 12

Product Bundle Builder for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.8★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 1 too low 13

Table Rate Shipping for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (74) wp.org #23 ↓6 10 too low 14

Maximum, Minimum and Multiple Quantity for WooCommerce Shops 3K+ · 4.4★ (36) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #10 4 too high 15

Custom Shipping Methods for WooCommerce – Create Weight based Shipping, Conditional Shipping, Table Rate Shipping and much more 3K+ · 4.8★ (18) thin reviews wp.org #15 16

WPC Composite Products for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.6★ (76) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too low 17

SMNTCS Quantity Increment Buttons for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.5★ (20) thin reviews wp.org #16 1 too high 18

Tiered Pricing Table for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (104) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #22 4 too low 19

Flat Rate Shipping Method for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.2★ (76) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #19 ↑2 20

WPC Name Your Price for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.4★ (19) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #12 8 too high 21

Minimum and Maximum Quantity for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.0★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #11 10 too high 22

Custom Datepicker NMR 1K+ · 4.6★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #20 ↑4 2 too high 23

Advanced Datepicker – Restricts Date for Contact Form 7 500+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑2 5 too high 24

Date Picker For Contact Form 7 4K+ · 3.9★ (7) 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.