wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “order approval”

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 “order approval”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 10 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

Order Cancellation & Returns for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #10 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 300+ 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

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! places #9 on merit, 4.2★ from 551 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Order Approval for Woocommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #1 2

Order Tracking – WordPress Status Tracking Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (73) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3

B2BKing — Ultimate WooCommerce B2B and Wholesale Plugin — Wholesale Prices, Bulk Order Form & More 10K+ · 4.9★ (109) wp.org #6 ↑3 3 too low 4

WC Cancel Order 5K+ · 4.9★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #3 1 too high 5

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #8 ↑2 3 too low 6

PublishPress Checklists: Pre-Publishing Approval Checklist – Validate Post Requirements 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) thin reviews wp.org #7 1 too low 7

PiWeb Cancel order / Refund request for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (39) wp.org #9 ↓3 2 too low 8

Instant Approval Payment Gateway with Instant Payouts 2K+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #2 6 too high 9

Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current wp.org #20 ↓4 11 too low 10

WooCommerce PayPal Payments 800K+ · 2.9★ (583) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 1 too low 11

Maximum, Minimum and Multiple Quantity for WooCommerce Shops 3K+ · 4.4★ (36) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too low 12

Thank You Page for WooCommerce 10K+ · 5.0★ (43) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #22 10 too low 13

Dokan Order Approval 10+ · 4.6★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #5 ↓1 8 too high 14

WebToffee EU Order Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #12 2 too high 15

Multibanco, MB WAY, Credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Payshop, and PIX (ifthenpay) for WooCommerce 8K+ · 5.0★ (21) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #18 ↑3 3 too low 16

OrderConvo – Vendor & Customer Messages After Orders 200+ · 4.6★ (22) thin reviews wp.org #23 7 too low 17

Shop as Client for WooCommerce – Manual, Phone & Email Orders 500+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓3 1 too high 18

Portugal States (Distritos) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too high 19

Notiqoo – Order Notification & Customer Chat for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (19) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #24 5 too low 20

NIF (Num. de Contribuinte Português) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #19 1 too high 21

Flexible Refund for WooCommerce – EU One Click Return 2K+ · 4.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 7 too high 22

Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #15 7 too high 23

Order Cancellation & Returns for WooCommerce 300+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 ↑1 13 too high 24

Order approval for WCFM 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 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.