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

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 status”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 9 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

Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 600+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Order On Mobile for WooCommerce places #11 on merit, 4.9★ from 66 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Custom Order Status Manager for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #1 2 Simple Custom Post Order 300K+ · 4.8★ (578) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (536) wp.org #9 6 too low 4 Advanced Order Export For WooCommerce 100K+ · 5.0★ (350) wp.org #12 8 too low 5 Scheduled & Automatic Order Status Controller for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) wp.org #4 1 too high 6 Order Tracking – WordPress Status Tracking Plugin 3K+ · 4.6★ (73) wp.org #10 4 too low 7 Order Status Control for WooCommerce 4K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 5 too high 8 Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce 60K+ · 4.7★ (336) wp.org #13 5 too low 9 Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 10K+ · 3.3★ (32) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 Order Status History for WooCommerce 900+ · 5.0★ (14) wp.org #11 1 too low 11 Order On Mobile for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.9★ (66) wp.org #21 10 too low 12 N Ni WooCommerce Custom Order Status 2K+ · 4.1★ (16) wp.org #6 6 too high 13 Custom Order Numbers for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.2★ (25) wp.org #8 5 too high 14 Archive Content with Archived Post Status 5K+ · 4.9★ (36) wp.org #20 6 too low 15 Art WooCommerce Order One Click 4K+ · 5.0★ (36) wp.org #24 9 too low 16 WC Cancel Order 5K+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #17 1 too low 17 Order Approval for Woocommerce 1K+ · 4.8★ (23) wp.org #19 2 too low 18 WebToffee EU Order Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #23 5 too low 19 Advanced Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #7 12 too high 20 Order on Mobile for WooCommerce 7K+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #14 6 too high 21 EU Order Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.6★ (7) wp.org #18 3 too high 22 Repeat Order for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.3★ (6) wp.org #16 6 too high 23 YITH WooCommerce Order & Shipment Tracking 7K+ · 3.7★ (15) wp.org #22 1 too high 24 SDP Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 9 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.