wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “note templates”

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 “note templates”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20.

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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Blocks Starter Templates – Block Templates & Patterns shows at wp.org #12 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 2144 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) wp.org #1 2

Starter Templates: AI-Powered Website Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 1M+ · 4.9★ (4755) wp.org #2 3

Email Templates Customizer and Designer for WordPress and WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (133) wp.org #3 ↑1 4

Royal Addons for Elementor – Addons and Templates Kit for Elementor 600K+ · 4.8★ (612) wp.org #4 ↓1 5

Ultimate Addons for Elementor – Widgets, Templates, WooCommerce & Header Footer Builder 2M+ · 4.9★ (2528) wp.org #6 1 too low 6

Print Invoice & Delivery Notes for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.4★ (140) wp.org #5 1 too high 7

WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #10 3 too low 8

The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461) wp.org #8 9

WebToffee WooCommerce PDF Invoices, Packing Slips, Delivery Notes & Shipping Labels 50K+ · 4.9★ (285) wp.org #9 10

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322) wp.org #11 1 too low 11

PDF Invoices & Packing Slips for WooCommerce 300K+ · 5.0★ (1865) wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too low 12

Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144) wp.org #16 4 too low 13

Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5040) wp.org #18 ↑1 5 too low 14

WPKoi Templates for Elementor 5K+ · 4.6★ (19) thin reviews wp.org #7 7 too high 15

MailPoet – Newsletters, Email Marketing, and Automation 500K+ · 4.4★ (1435) wp.org #20 ↓3 5 too low 16

Element Pack Addons for Elementor – MCP & AI-Ready Elementor Widgets, Elementor Templates, Elementor Addons 100K+ · 4.7★ (284) wp.org #21 5 too low 17

The Plus Addons for Elementor – Mega Menu, Header Footer, Post Grid, AI Widgets & Templates 100K+ · 4.6★ (388) wp.org #23 ↓1 6 too low 18

Mailonix – Email Template Customizer for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (105) wp.org #19 ↑1 1 too low 19

WDesignKit – AI Templates, Widget Builder & MCP Workflow 30K+ · 4.8★ (12) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑1 2 too high 20

Marquee Addons for Elementor – Essential Motion Widgets & Templates 20K+ · 5.0★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #22 2 too low 21

RD Order Note Templates for WooCommerce 50+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 8 too high 22

Set Price Note (Units, Offers, Editions) for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.7★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↓1 7 too high 23

Kits, Templates and Patterns 4K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓1 1 too low 24

Blocks Starter Templates – Block Templates & Patterns 1K+ · 3.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #12 ↑3 12 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.