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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “number validator”

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 “number validator”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 16 of the top 20. 2 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

Softech Country Phone Validator shows at wp.org #3 but places #16 on merit, a gap of 13 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

Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce places #4 on merit, 4.7★ from 1071 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Serial Codes Generator and Validator with WooCommerce Support 700+ · 4.6★ (13) wp.org #1 2 Phone Validator with Flags for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #2 3 Checkout Field Editor (Checkout Manager) for WooCommerce 400K+ · 4.9★ (1056) wp.org #15 ↓1 12 too low 4 Product Feed PRO for WooCommerce by AdTribes – Product Feeds for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.7★ (1071) wp.org #17 13 too low 5 Gwolle Guestbook 20K+ · 4.8★ (113) wp.org #13 ↓2 8 too low 6 Flexible Checkout Fields for WooCommerce – WooCommerce Checkout Manager 80K+ · 4.7★ (296) wp.org #16 ↑2 10 too low 7 Post SMTP – Complete Email Delivery and SMTP Solution with Email Logs, Alerts, Backup SMTP & Mobile App 300K+ · 4.7★ (528) wp.org #18 ↓2 11 too low 8 Extra Product Options For WooCommerce | Custom Product Addons and Fields 30K+ · 4.9★ (219) wp.org #11 ↑1 3 too low 9 Antideo Email Validator 700+ · 3.5★ (14) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 Serial Numbers – Ultimate License Manager for Selling, Licensing & Securely Delivering Digital Content with WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (78) wp.org #12 ↑1 2 too low 11 La Sentinelle antispam 3K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too low 12 Byteplant Phone Validator 100+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #5 7 too high 13 Clearout Email Validator – Real-Time Email Verification on WordPress Forms 500+ · 4.2★ (13) wp.org #6 ↑2 7 too high 14 Byteplant Email Validator 90+ · 3.8★ (9) wp.org #7 ↓1 7 too high 15 Recipe Card Blocks Lite 10K+ · 4.8★ (20) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 Softech Country Phone Validator 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #3 13 too high 17 EU/UK VAT Validation Manager for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.8★ (39) wp.org #23 6 too low 18 Address Validator for WooCommerce 90+ · 3.4★ (9) wp.org #9 ↓2 9 too high 19 Edutain Certificate Validator – Certificate Verification, QR Code & Digital Credentials 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #8 ↑1 11 too high 20 Super Simple Event Calendar 600+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #19 1 too high 21 Phone Validator for WPForms 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 11 too high 22 Academic Certificate Verification – Certificate Management & Certificate Validator 80+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #21 1 too high 23 KSA National Address Validator 90+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 turboSMTP Email Validator 10+ · 0.0★ (0) 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.