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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “pc builder”

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 “pc builder”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 of the top 20. 5 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

WP Popup Builder – Popup Forms and Marketing Lead Generation shows at wp.org #2 but places #18 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 2K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.5★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager places #1 on merit, 5.0★ from 1525 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Folders – Unlimited Folders to Organize Media Library Folder, Pages, Posts, File Manager 90K+ · 5.0★ (1525) wp.org #5 ↑1 4 too low 2 JetFormBuilder — Dynamic Blocks Form Builder 80K+ · 4.2★ (72) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 Faview – Virtual Reviews for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.6★ (54) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 EXMAGE – WordPress Image Links 5K+ · 5.0★ (33) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 EU Cookies Bar for WordPress 9K+ · 4.8★ (26) wp.org #7 2 too low 6 CURCY – Multi Currency for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.3★ (227) wp.org #8 ↑2 2 too low 7 Bulky – Bulk Edit Products for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (53) wp.org #9 ↓1 2 too low 8 Choosly – Product Variations Swatches for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (76) wp.org #10 ↓1 2 too low 9 Mailonix – Email Template Customizer for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.6★ (105) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 BuildKit – Product Builder for WooCommerce – Custom PC Builder 300+ · 2.8★ (4) wp.org #1 9 too high 11 Countix Sales Countdown Timer 5K+ · 4.4★ (26) wp.org #15 4 too low 12 S2W – Import Shopify to WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.7★ (42) wp.org #14 2 too low 13 Trakoo – Orders Tracking for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (58) wp.org #16 3 too low 14 Sizor Product Size Chart For WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.3★ (32) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 CartSuite – Cart All In One For WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.5★ (51) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 Freetop – Free Shipping Bar for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.7★ (40) wp.org #23 7 too low 17 Recarto – Abandoned Cart Recovery for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.5★ (28) wp.org #19 2 too low 18 WP Popup Builder – Popup Forms and Marketing Lead Generation 2K+ · 3.5★ (2) wp.org #2 16 too high 19 Advanced Product Information for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 AForms — Form Builder for Price Calculator & Cost Estimation 3K+ · 4.8★ (8) wp.org #24 ↓2 4 too low 21 9MAIL – WordPress Email Templates Designer 200+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #21 22 Snow Monkey Editor 30K+ · 4.0★ (5) wp.org #22 ↑2 23 Clear Autoptimize Cache Automatically 4K+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #13 10 too high 24 Upzell Checkout Upsell Funnel for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 6 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.