wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “processors”

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 “processors”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20.

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

Import into Easy Property Listings shows at wp.org #8 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 13 places. Its 1K+ 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

Seriously Simple Podcasting places #11 on merit, 4.7★ from 330 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Easy Digital Downloads – eCommerce Payments and Subscriptions made easy 40K+ · 4.7★ (592) wp.org #2 1 too low 2

WooPayments: Integrated WooCommerce Payments 800K+ · 3.4★ (177) low rating, top placement wp.org #1 1 too high 3

Newsletter – Send awesome emails from WordPress 200K+ · 4.6★ (1205) wp.org #3 4

GiveWP – Donation Plugin and Fundraising Platform 100K+ · 4.6★ (708) wp.org #5 1 too low 5

GDPR 10K+ · 4.3★ (58) wp.org #4 1 too high 6

SureCart – Ecommerce Made Easy For Selling Physical Products, Digital Downloads, Subscriptions, Donations, & Payments 80K+ · 4.8★ (289) wp.org #9 3 too low 7

Eventin – Events Calendar, Tickets, Registration, Booking & WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (413) wp.org #11 4 too low 8

BTCPay Server – Accept Bitcoin payments in WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (21) thin reviews wp.org #6 2 too high 9

Bitcoin Payments – Blockonomics 2K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #7 2 too high 10

AWP Classifieds 3K+ · 4.6★ (301) wp.org #16 6 too low 11

Seriously Simple Podcasting 20K+ · 4.7★ (330) wp.org #19 8 too low 12

Enlighter – Customizable Syntax Highlighter 10K+ · 4.8★ (65) wp.org #13 1 too low 13

YayCurrency – WooCommerce Multi-Currency Switcher 7K+ · 4.8★ (114) wp.org #17 4 too low 14

Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (107) wp.org #23 9 too low 15

StoryChief 1K+ · 4.7★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #10 5 too high 16

Sprout Invoices – Client Invoicing & Estimates 1K+ · 4.4★ (191) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 D Disable Payment Methods based on cart conditions for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #12 5 too high 18

Korea for WooCommerce 300+ · 5.0★ (8) thin reviews wp.org #20 2 too low 19

WC Moneris Payment Gateway 900+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #15 4 too high 20

CIELO API PIX, credit card, debit payment for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.2★ (5) thin reviews wp.org #21 1 too low 21

Import into Easy Property Listings 1K+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #8 13 too high 22

Pay. Payment Methods for WooCommerce 3K+ · 3.7★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #18 4 too high 23

WP Forms + Sprout Invoices – Easy Invoice & Quote Submissions 300+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #14 9 too high 24

HBLPAY Payment Gateway for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #22 2 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.