wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “minimum”
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 “minimum”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 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 #7 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 15 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
User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor places #9 on merit, 4.7★ from 738 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.
Minimum Purchase Amount For Woo Cart – For WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.7★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 
Order Minimum/Maximum Amount Limits for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 3 
Really Simple Security – Simple and Performant Security (formerly Really Simple SSL) 3M+ · 4.9★ (8869)
wp.org #11 ↑3 8 too low 4 
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #13 ↓1 9 too low 5 
Minimum Order Amount for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.6★ (14) thin reviews
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
WPvivid — Backup, Migration & Staging 900K+ · 4.9★ (1568)
wp.org #10 4 too low 7 
Min Max Quantities – Set Minimum/Maximum Quantity & Price Limits with Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (60) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 
Duplicate Page 3M+ · 4.8★ (466)
wp.org #14 6 too low 9 User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor 40K+ · 4.7★ (738)
wp.org #21 ↑4 12 too low 10 
Redirection 2M+ · 4.4★ (703)
wp.org #15 ↑6 5 too low 11 
Min and Max Quantity for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.8★ (218) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too low 12 
MailPoet – Newsletters, Email Marketing, and Automation 500K+ · 4.4★ (1435) heavy footprint
wp.org #18 ↓3 6 too low 13 
Maximum, Minimum and Multiple Quantity for WooCommerce Shops 3K+ · 4.4★ (36) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 7 too high 14 
Image Watermark 40K+ · 4.2★ (298)
wp.org #20 6 too low 15 
Minimum Age for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.8★ (4) thin reviews
wp.org #4 11 too high 16 
Complianz – Terms and Conditions 300K+ · 4.9★ (187)
wp.org #24 8 too low 17 
PublishPress Checklists: Pre-Publishing Approval Checklist – Validate Post Requirements 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 too high 18 
PiWeb Min/Max Quantity & Minimum Order Limits for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.3★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #8 10 too high 19 
WooCommerce Stripe Payment Gateway 700K+ · 3.1★ (237) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 10 too high 20 
Min Max Step Quantity Limits Manager for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (51) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↑5 3 too high 21 
Min Max Control – Min Max Quantity & Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (79) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 ↓1 2 too high 22 Minimum and Maximum Quantity for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.0★ (16) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #7 15 too high 23 
Matomo Analytics – Powerful, Privacy-First Insights for WordPress 100K+ · 4.6★ (178) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓7 24 
ELEX Minimum Order Amount for WooCommerce 200+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #22 2 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.