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

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 “mls”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 9 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

Easy MLS Listings Import shows at wp.org #10 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 100+ 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.

Buried gem

ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF places #10 on merit, 4.5★ from 830 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 wp.org
1 Realtyna Organic IDX plugin + WPL Real Estate 1K+ · 4.7★ (203) wp.org #3 2 too low 2 Optimole – Optimize Images | Convert WebP & AVIF | CDN & Lazy Load | Image Optimization 200K+ · 4.7★ (640) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3 ElementsKit Elementor Addons – Advanced Widgets & Templates Addons for Elementor 1M+ · 4.9★ (2051) wp.org #6 ↑4 3 too low 4 Estatik Real Estate Plugin 10K+ · 4.6★ (187) wp.org #9 ↓5 5 too low 5 MLSImport: IDX Plugin & MLS Plugin for Real Estate Listings 5K+ · 4.2★ (5) wp.org #1 4 too high 6 Buying Buddy IDX CRM – Real Estate MLS Plugin 500+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 Houzez Property Feed 1K+ · 4.7★ (11) wp.org #5 ↑3 2 too high 8 Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838) wp.org #13 ↓4 5 too low 9 Smart COD for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (52) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 ShortPixel Image Optimizer – Optimize Images, Convert WebP & AVIF 300K+ · 4.5★ (830) wp.org #21 ↓9 11 too low 11 Showcase IDX Real Estate Search & Lead Capture 2K+ · 3.8★ (35) wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too high 12 Optima Express IDX 10K+ · 3.2★ (45) wp.org #16 4 too low 13 IMPress for IDX Broker 7K+ · 3.1★ (34) wp.org #7 ↓1 6 too high 14 Flexmls® IDX Plugin 1K+ · 3.5★ (22) wp.org #14 15 Rover IDX 200+ · 4.8★ (24) wp.org #17 2 too low 16 Diverse Solutions IDX Real Estate Listings & MLS Search 1K+ · 3.2★ (66) wp.org #12 ↑1 4 too high 17 WPSSO Schema Product Metadata for WooCommerce 400+ · 4.8★ (16) wp.org #19 2 too low 18 SimplyRETS Real Estate IDX 200+ · 4.9★ (8) wp.org #15 3 too high 19 Medialist 800+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #23 ↓1 4 too low 20 Flexible Quantity & Price Calculator for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.3★ (9) wp.org #22 ↓1 2 too low 21 WPC Product Quantity for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.0★ (15) wp.org #20 1 too high 22 Easy MLS Listings Import 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 ↑1 12 too high 23 My IDX Home Search 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 5 too high 24 Shift8 Real Estate Listings for TRREB 20+ · 5.0★ (1) 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.