wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “online learning”

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 “online learning”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 5 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

User Activity Tracking and Log shows at wp.org #12 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.5★ average from 34 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Popup Box – Create Countdown, Coupon, Video, Contact Form Popups places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 82 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 signals wp.org

Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #1 2

Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) heavy footprint wp.org #2 3

MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education 10K+ · 4.5★ (487) heavy footprint wp.org #3 ↑1 4

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #6 2 too low 5

LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6

Quiz Maker by AYS 20K+ · 4.9★ (601) wp.org #8 ↑7 2 too low 7

Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (591) wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too low 8

FluentCommunity – Ultra-Fast High-Performance Social Network, Community, LMS & Online Courses 8K+ · 4.8★ (96) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #7 1 too high 9

GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #11 ↓1 2 too low 10

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too low 11

Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning 9K+ · 3.5★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 6 too high 12

Popup Box – Create Countdown, Coupon, Video, Contact Form Popups 50K+ · 4.6★ (82) wp.org #17 ↑1 5 too low 13

SureCart – Ecommerce Made Easy For Selling Physical Products, Digital Downloads, Subscriptions, Donations, & Payments 80K+ · 4.8★ (288) heavy footprint wp.org #20 ↓1 7 too low 14

FluentCRM – Email Newsletter, Automation, Email Marketing, Email Campaigns, Optins, Leads, and CRM Solution 80K+ · 4.8★ (250) wp.org #23 ↑1 9 too low 15

Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #22 ↑1 7 too low 16

MonsterInsights – Google Analytics Dashboard for WordPress (Website Stats Made Easy) 2M+ · 4.5★ (3157) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #16 ↓2 17

The School Management – Education & Learning ERP 700+ · 4.5★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #10 ↓1 7 too high 18

Subscriptions for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (180) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #18 ↓2 19

ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #15 4 too high 20

ProctoPress : Quiz/Exam Proctoring For Learning Management System(LMS) 100+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews wp.org #13 ↓1 7 too high 21

User Activity Tracking and Log 2K+ · 3.5★ (34) wp.org #12 ↓1 9 too high 22

Timetics – Appointment Booking Calendar & Scheduling 2K+ · 4.6★ (36) wp.org #24 ↓2 2 too low 23

WP Sessions Time Monitoring Full Automatic 400+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #19 ↓2 4 too high 24

Acadlix LMS – AI Quiz Maker, Online Exam & Course Plugin for WordPress 40+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #21 3 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.