wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “online support”
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 support”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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
Worldline Online Checkout shows at wp.org #13 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy places #11 on merit, 5.0★ from 4625 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.
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833)
wp.org #1 2 
Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590)
wp.org #2 3 
Yoast SEO – Advanced SEO with real-time guidance and built-in AI 10M+ · 4.8★ (27820)
wp.org #6 ↑11 3 too low 4 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5 
Chatway Live Chat – AI Chatbot, Customer Support, FAQ & Helpdesk Customer Service & Chat Buttons 30K+ · 5.0★ (775)
wp.org #8 ↓2 3 too low 6 
LearnPress – WordPress LMS Plugin for Create and Sell Online Courses 70K+ · 4.3★ (597)
wp.org #7 ↑8 1 too low 7 
Online Active Users 2K+ · 4.7★ (51)
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
Product Feed Manager for WooCommerce – CTX Feed – Support 220+ Shopping, AI & Social Channels 90K+ · 4.6★ (838)
wp.org #9 ↓3 1 too low 9 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7322)
wp.org #10 ↑6 1 too low 10 
Majestic Support – The Leading-Edge Help Desk & Customer Support Plugin 3K+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #3 7 too high 11 TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #16 ↑8 5 too low 12 
Online Scheduling and Appointment Booking System – Bookly 60K+ · 4.4★ (586)
wp.org #15 ↓6 3 too low 13 
Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445)
wp.org #21 ↑2 8 too low 14 
Smart Online Order for Clover 1K+ · 4.9★ (34)
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 
3CX Free Live Chat, Calls & Messaging 100K+ · 4.6★ (820)
wp.org #24 ↓3 9 too low 16 
Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184)
wp.org #22 6 too low 17 
MyWorks Sync for WooCommerce & QuickBooks Online 5K+ · 4.7★ (75)
wp.org #19 ↓11 2 too low 18 
JS Help Desk – AI-Powered Support & Ticketing System 7K+ · 3.7★ (74)
wp.org #14 ↓1 4 too high 19 
Food Online for WooCommerce 300+ · 4.1★ (26)
wp.org #23 4 too low 20 
Better Chat Support for Messenger 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #20 ↓1 21 
Colete-Online 600+ · 3.8★ (5) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑1 9 too high 22 
WPChat – Live Chat & Messaging Widget for Customer Support 6K+ · 4.5★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 5 too high 23 Worldline Online Checkout 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #13 10 too high 24 
Airwallex Online Payments Gateway 10K+ · 2.1★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↑6 6 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.