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← Rankings

wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “postcode lookup”

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

Postcode.eu Address Validation shows at wp.org #5 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 200+ 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

ProveSource Social Proof places #8 on merit, 4.8★ from 72 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 UK Address Postcode Validation 700+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #1 2 Shipping Simulator for WooCommerce 6K+ · 5.0★ (40) wp.org #4 ↑1 2 too low 3 Smart COD for WooCommerce 30K+ · 4.6★ (52) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 Campos Checkout Brasileiro para WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (45) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 Fetchify 600+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #3 2 too high 6 Geo Controller – Geolocation & Geotargeting 1K+ · 4.4★ (31) wp.org #8 2 too low 7 Postcodes4U Address Finder 300+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #2 5 too high 8 ProveSource Social Proof 2K+ · 4.8★ (72) wp.org #18 10 too low 9 Kybernaut IČO DIČ 2K+ · 5.0★ (38) wp.org #11 2 too low 10 European VAT Compliance Assistant for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.8★ (26) wp.org #15 5 too low 11 Eventward 400+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #10 ↑3 1 too high 12 Postcode.eu Address Validation 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #5 ↓1 7 too high 13 WC – APG City 100+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #12 ↓2 1 too high 14 Check Pincode For WooCommerce 300+ · 4.4★ (5) wp.org #17 3 too low 15 AutoPostcode 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #9 6 too high 16 Checkout Guard – Block Fake Orders, Spam & Fraud for WooCommerce 90+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #19 3 too low 17 Postcode Checkout – Address Validation | WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 ↓1 4 too high 18 Address Lookup field for ACF 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 4 too high 19 UK Address Autocomplete & Postcode Lookup for Forms & WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #16 3 too high 20 SnapAddress 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too low 21 1881 Number Lookup — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓3 2 too low 22 CompanyData – Company Lookup & Address Autofill — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓2 2 too low 23 Address Autocomplete for WooCommerce 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24 Mintpay for WooCommerce 600+ · 3.0★ (2) 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.