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

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 idx search”, 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

Lofty IDX shows at wp.org #16 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 70+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Realtyna Organic IDX plugin + WPL Real Estate places #2 on merit, 4.7★ from 203 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 IMPress for IDX Broker 7K+ · 3.1★ (34) wp.org #1 2 Realtyna Organic IDX plugin + WPL Real Estate 1K+ · 4.7★ (203) wp.org #9 7 too low 3 Estatik Real Estate Plugin 10K+ · 4.5★ (186) wp.org #10 7 too low 4 Showcase IDX Real Estate Search & Lead Capture 2K+ · 3.8★ (35) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Optima Express IDX 10K+ · 3.2★ (45) wp.org #5 6 Flexmls® IDX Plugin 1K+ · 3.5★ (22) wp.org #6 7 Rover IDX 200+ · 4.8★ (24) wp.org #7 8 MLSImport: IDX Plugin & MLS Plugin for Real Estate Listings 5K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #2 6 too high 9 Buying Buddy IDX CRM – Real Estate MLS Plugin 500+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 Houzez Property Feed 1K+ · 4.7★ (11) wp.org #13 3 too low 11 SimplyRETS Real Estate IDX 200+ · 4.9★ (8) wp.org #11 12 Diverse Solutions IDX Real Estate Listings & MLS Search 1K+ · 3.2★ (66) wp.org #14 2 too low 13 VistaWP – IDX Feeds for Page Builders 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #18 5 too low 14 My IDX Home Search 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 6 too high 15 Easy MLS Listings Import 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 3 too high 16 AeroIDX – Real Estate IDX Search, MLS Listings & Lead Capture — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 3 too low 17 Apex IDX 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 PeakIDX Real Estate Search & Lead Generation — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 2 too low 19 Web4Realty IDX 80+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 IDXExpress – Listings Pro — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 1 too low 21 AgentRoster Real Estate Team Directory — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Barbican – Real Estate Platform on the RESO Standard — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 1 too low 23 ListingKit – AI Property Import — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 1 too low 24 Lofty IDX 70+ · 1.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↑1 8 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.