wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “points system”

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 “points system”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

ACS Points Plugin shows at wp.org #6 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 300+ 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

MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education places #7 on merit, 4.5★ from 487 reviews, but shows at wp.org #13. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #1 ↑1 2

Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred 10K+ · 4.6★ (472) not PHP-current wp.org #2 ↓1 3

Elementor Website Builder – more than just a page builder 10M+ · 4.5★ (7323) not PHP-currentheavy footprint wp.org #3 ↑2 4

Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin 200K+ · 4.4★ (1445) wp.org #7 ↑2 3 too low 5

Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create Loyalty Programs, Reward Customer Purchases, Referral Points, User Badges, and Gamification 6K+ · 4.5★ (180) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #4 ↓1 1 too high 6

Domain Mapping System | Create Microsites with Multiple Alias Domains (multisite optional) 2K+ · 4.5★ (56) wp.org #8 ↓1 2 too low 7

MasterStudy LMS WordPress Plugin – for Online Courses and Education 10K+ · 4.5★ (487) heavy footprint wp.org #13 ↓2 6 too low 8

Loyalty Points Rewards and Referral for WooCommerce – WPLoyalty 3K+ · 5.0★ (310) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #10 ↓2 2 too low 9

GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #12 ↓2 3 too low 10

Fluent Support – Helpdesk & Customer Support Ticket System 10K+ · 4.6★ (69) wp.org #11 ↑5 1 too low 11

Wallet System for WooCommerce – Digital Wallet, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), Instant Cashback, Referral program, Partial & Subscription Payments 1K+ · 4.9★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 ↑3 2 too high 12

Tutor LMS – eLearning and online course solution 100K+ · 4.4★ (590) heavy footprint wp.org #17 5 too low 13

Simple Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create a Loyalty Program 400+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #5 ↓1 8 too high 14

Comments – GraphComment | AI-Moderated Comment System 400+ · 4.7★ (30) wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too low 15

Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin 1M+ · 4.5★ (157) wp.org #19 4 too low 16

Barcode Scanner (+Mobile App) – Inventory manager, Order fulfillment system, POS (Point of Sale) 700+ · 5.0★ (52) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #21 ↓1 5 too low 17

WP-CRM System – Manage Clients and Projects 700+ · 3.9★ (15) thin reviews wp.org #14 ↓1 3 too high 18

KiviCare – Clinic & Patient Management System (EHR) 1K+ · 3.6★ (23) thin reviews wp.org #18 ↓1 19

ACS Points Plugin 300+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #6 13 too high 20

Library Management System 200+ · 4.4★ (14) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21

XT Points & Rewards for WooCommerce 60+ · 4.5★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓3 1 too low 22

Course Booking System 80+ · 3.8★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #23 ↑1 1 too low 23

Welcart e-Commerce 10K+ · 4.5★ (6) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24

myCred Addons – Ultimate myCred Modules To Support WordPress Gamification and Loyalty Rewards 400+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #20 ↓2 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.