wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “paperless”
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 “paperless”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 17. 1 plugin is 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 the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.
Ranked above its merit
Doc Mitayo shows at wp.org #6 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 4 places. Its — 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
Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales places #1 on merit, 4.4★ from 136 reviews, but shows at wp.org #5. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Event Espresso – Event Registration & Ticketing Sales 500+ · 4.4★ (136)
wp.org #5 4 too low 2 
ELEX WooCommerce DHL Express Shipping Method 200+ · 4.5★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #2 3 
eCommerce Shipping Dashboard by UPS for WooCommerce 1K+ · 3.5★ (6) thin reviews
wp.org #1 2 too high 4 
Showcase IDX Real Estate Search & Lead Capture 2K+ · 3.8★ (35)
wp.org #14 10 too low 5 P Paperless Invoicing — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
Automated UPS Shipping for WooCommerce – HPOS supported 100+ · 4.6★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #15 9 too low 7 
Yesh Invoice – WooCommerce Payment Gateway 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #4 3 too high 8 
CoSchool LMS – A complete Learning Management System to Create and Sell Your Courses Online 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #9 1 too low 9 
Paidy for WooCommerce 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #7 2 too high 10 Doc Mitayo — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #6 4 too high 11 
Ultra Addons for WPForms 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 
CDL Checkout Payment Gateway for WooCommerce 30+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #10 2 too high 13 
Pick&Scan Lite – WooCommerce Picking List PDF by Bin Location — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #11 2 too high 14 
ProntoSpedire.it — Shipping — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #12 2 too high 15 
SPRINGGDS® Shipping for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #13 2 too high 16 
Holio Shipping 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #17 1 too low 17 
Fiizy Pay Later Multi-lender Payment Gateway for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #16 1 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.