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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “mock 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 “mock api”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 3 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

Lagersystem.dk: Parcelpickup locator for Woocommerce shows at wp.org #7 but places #17 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

FakerPress places #2 on merit, 4.9★ from 205 reviews, but shows at wp.org #8. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Image Gallery 3K+ · 4.4★ (32) wp.org #2 ↑1 1 too low 2 FakerPress 10K+ · 4.9★ (205) wp.org #8 6 too low 3 GR Widget – Google Reviews Widget 900+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Advanced REST API DevTools 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #1 3 too high 5 Acadlix LMS – AI Quiz Maker, Online Exam & Course Plugin for WordPress 40+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Popcustoms – Print on demand & dropshipping, Free Personalizer 100+ · 4.4★ (5) wp.org #5 1 too high 7 Connect WooCommerce Shop to ERP/CRM, Verifactu and EU/VAT Compliance 900+ · 4.6★ (10) wp.org #17 10 too low 8 WPGraphQL for ACF 10K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #3 ↓1 5 too high 9 AI Services 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 utm.codes 400+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too low 11 TheAVCoach Weather Station for WeatherLink 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 2 too high 12 Simple Payment 40+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↓2 11 too low 13 WeWidget – Reviews Widget for Google 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 3 too high 14 Wine Cellar Manager – From collector to sommelier: wine always in order 10+ · 4.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↑1 2 too high 15 Virtual Media Folders 300+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #16 ↑1 1 too low 16 CuteJson — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Lagersystem.dk: Parcelpickup locator for Woocommerce 40+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #7 10 too high 18 Instant Order Status Notifier with Telegram 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 GoalPrevail Trust Icons 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 2 too low 20 AI + Block Editor 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↓2 2 too high 21 Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce – Shipping Date, Delivery Time & Cutoff Countdown 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 3 too low 22 Kriti AI — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 3 too high 23 PushAI – Self-Hosted Web Push Notifications 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 Weather Write 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↓2 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.