wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “order complete”
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 complete”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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 Status Control for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #5 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 538 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (587)
wp.org #1 2 
Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce 100K+ · 5.0★ (350)
wp.org #3 ↑1 1 too low 3 
Custom Taxonomy Order 50K+ · 4.8★ (96)
wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4 
Sequential Order Number for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.9★ (146)
wp.org #8 ↑2 4 too low 5 
Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.7★ (337) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 
Translate WordPress with GTranslate 900K+ · 4.9★ (4962)
wp.org #14 ↓1 8 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 #13 ↓4 6 too low 8 
Order auto complete for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #2 ↑1 6 too high 9 CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (538)
wp.org #19 ↓1 10 too low 10 
OneClick Chat to Order 30K+ · 4.8★ (84) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↓3 1 too high 11 
Autocomplete WooCommerce Orders 30K+ · 4.6★ (137)
wp.org #16 ↓1 5 too low 12 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Custom Order Status Manager for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.7★ (117) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #12 1 too high 14 
Real Custom Post Order: Create a custom order for your content 8K+ · 4.8★ (42) not PHP-current
wp.org #11 3 too high 15 
Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #24 9 too low 16 
Site Kit by Google – Analytics, Search Console, AdSense, Speed 5M+ · 4.2★ (1012)
wp.org #23 7 too low 17 
Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓5 10 too high 18 
Order Tracking – WordPress Status Tracking Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (73)
wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too low 19 Order Status Control for WooCommerce 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #5 ↑3 14 too high 20 
Disable Responsive Images Complete 2K+ · 4.3★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 5 too high 21 
Order Approval for Woocommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓2 3 too high 22 
Order Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.3★ (61) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 1 too high 23 
Order Minimum/Maximum Amount Limits for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 1 too high 24 
Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (32) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #17 ↑6 7 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.