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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “model view controller”

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 “model view controller”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 4 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

Manago AI & Leadoo AI shows at wp.org #9 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 900+ 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

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 393 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Year Make Model Search for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (34) wp.org #1 2 ShopEngine – All-in-One Elementor WooCommerce Builder with eCommerce Templates & Woo Widgets 100K+ · 4.6★ (212) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 BetterDocs – AI Documentation, Knowledge Base, MCP Server, Docs, Wikis, FAQ & Chatbot 30K+ · 4.8★ (515) wp.org #6 3 too low 4 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Document Embedder – let visitors read files without downloading 9K+ · 4.9★ (120) wp.org #5 6 Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397) wp.org #10 ↓1 4 too low 7 WDesignKit – AI Templates, Widget Builder & MCP Workflow 30K+ · 4.8★ (12) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 FAZ Cookie Manager 3K+ · 5.0★ (30) wp.org #8 ↑2 9 GetGenie – AI SEO Assistant & Content Writer with Keyword Research, AEO & GEO 70K+ · 4.8★ (119) wp.org #12 3 too low 10 LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #19 9 too low 11 Project Manager – AI Powered Project Management, Task Management, Kanban Board & Time Tracker 5K+ · 3.8★ (187) wp.org #13 2 too low 12 Greenshift – animation and page builder blocks 70K+ · 4.8★ (107) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 Comments – GraphComment | AI-Moderated Comment System 400+ · 4.7★ (30) wp.org #18 5 too low 14 Easy 3d Model Viewer 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #2 12 too high 15 WPSmartPay – Payment Forms, Invoices, Donations & Subscriptions 100+ · 4.7★ (18) wp.org #17 2 too low 16 CoCart – Headless REST API for WooCommerce 900+ · 4.9★ (21) wp.org #15 1 too high 17 Dokan Kits 300+ · 4.6★ (11) wp.org #21 4 too low 18 TrackSure Cloud – Server-Side Tracking, Meta CAPI & GA4 for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 R RT Auction Product for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 1 too low 20 Send Emails — Newsletters, Automation & Email Marketing for WordPress 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 4 too high 21 ZMP AI Assistant 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↑1 1 too low 22 Manago AI & Leadoo AI 900+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 13 too high 23 DXTechAI Claw Agent 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #23 ↑1 24 Forerunner® AI Live Chat 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24 ↓2

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.