wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “page locker”

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 “page locker”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 7 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

Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade shows at wp.org #2 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 100+ 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

SmartyParcel – DHL Express, GLS, InPost & Nova Post for WooCommerce places #7 on merit, 4.6★ from 56 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

WPForms – AI Form Builder for WordPress – Contact Forms, Payment Forms, Survey Form, Quiz & More 5M+ · 4.8★ (14387) wp.org #1 2

morkva UA Shipping – Nova Poshta, Ukrposhta, Rozetka, Nova Global 1K+ · 4.9★ (29) wp.org #3 1 too low 3

Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 3 too low 4

Subscribe to Unlock Lite – Opt In Content Locker Plugin for WordPress 500+ · 3.9★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #5 6

Maximum, Minimum and Multiple Quantity for WooCommerce Shops 3K+ · 4.4★ (36) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 2 too low 7

SmartyParcel – DHL Express, GLS, InPost & Nova Post for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.6★ (56) wp.org #17 10 too low 8

WCMultiShipping — Mondial Relay, Inpost & Chronopost for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (33) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #13 5 too low 9

Boxtal – Shipping solution 9K+ · 4.0★ (46) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 2 too low 10

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 #14 4 too low 11

Portugal States (Distritos) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #9 2 too high 12

Version Locker: Disable Updates, Rollback and Downgrade 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #2 10 too high 13

NIF (Num. de Contribuinte Português) for WooCommerce 5K+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 3 too high 14

Portugal DPD Pickup and Lockers network for WooCommerce 200+ · 4.3★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #4 10 too high 15

ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping Method 800+ · 4.4★ (7) thin reviews wp.org #22 7 too low 16

Portugal CTT Tracking for WooCommerce 500+ · 5.0★ (5) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #16 17

SamedayCourier Shipping 4K+ · 2.7★ (14) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #12 5 too high 18

Social Share Block – Help Visitors Spread Your Content Everywhere 2K+ · 4.3★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #19 1 too low 19

Pasts Courier & Locker 50+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #21 2 too low 20

Lead Magnet Locker 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #23 3 too low 21

FOXPOST – Packeta Group 400+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #15 6 too high 22

ShipAny WooCommerce: Ship, Label, Tracking 200+ · 4.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #18 4 too high 23

Shipping with Venipak for WooCommerce 1K+ · 2.3★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24

bpost-shipping-platform 500+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #20 4 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.