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

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 files”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 6 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

Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #8 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.2★ average from 25 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

FileBird – WordPress Media Library Folders & File Manager places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 1125 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Post Types Order 600K+ · 4.5★ (296) wp.org #1 2 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (588) wp.org #2 3 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1526) wp.org #4 ↑3 1 too low 4 Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order 500K+ · 4.5★ (162) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce 100K+ · 5.0★ (350) wp.org #5 6 Custom Taxonomy Order 50K+ · 4.8★ (96) wp.org #6 7 Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.7★ (337) wp.org #7 ↓3 8 Sequential Order Number for WooCommerce 50K+ · 4.9★ (146) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 Wordfence Security – Firewall, Malware Scan, and Login Security 5M+ · 4.7★ (5039) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (538) wp.org #21 11 too low 11 FileBird – WordPress Media Library Folders & File Manager 200K+ · 4.7★ (1125) wp.org #23 12 too low 12 Forminator Forms – Contact Form, Payment Form & Custom Form Builder 600K+ · 4.8★ (2144) wp.org #24 ↓2 12 too low 13 Drag and Drop Multiple File Upload for Contact Form 7 60K+ · 4.8★ (94) wp.org #18 ↓1 5 too low 14 Custom Order Status Manager for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #14 ↓4 15 Real Custom Post Order: Create a custom order for your content 8K+ · 4.8★ (42) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 Checkout Files Upload for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.4★ (14) wp.org #9 7 too high 17 OneClick Chat to Order 30K+ · 4.8★ (84) wp.org #15 ↓1 2 too high 18 Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25) wp.org #8 10 too high 19 WP Sort Order 6K+ · 4.5★ (17) wp.org #12 7 too high 20 Order Tracking – WordPress Status Tracking Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (73) wp.org #22 ↑1 2 too low 21 BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too high 22 Order Tip for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.3★ (16) wp.org #16 ↓1 6 too high 23 Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (32) wp.org #20 ↓1 3 too high 24 Repeat Order for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #19 ↓1 5 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.