wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “profit”
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 “profit”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 6 of the top 20. 7 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
Metorik – Reports & Email Automation for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #14 but places #21 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 9K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 20 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection places #12 on merit, 4.6★ from 3992 reviews, but shows at wp.org #21. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #1 2 
Members – Membership & User Role Editor Plugin 300K+ · 4.9★ (1281)
wp.org #4 ↓1 2 too low 3 
Converter for Media – Optimize images | Convert WebP & AVIF 500K+ · 4.9★ (1106)
wp.org #5 2 too low 4 
Cost of Goods: Product Cost & Profit Calculator for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.7★ (41) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 2 too high 5 
BrikPanel: WooCommerce Dashboard & Analytics, Abandoned Cart Recovery, Order Export, Inventory Management & Bulk Editor 1K+ · 5.0★ (55) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #3 ↑1 2 too high 6 
Advanced Dynamic Pricing and Discount Rules for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.7★ (122)
wp.org #6 ↑1 7 
Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) not PHP-current
wp.org #7 ↓1 8 
PixelYourSite – Your smart PIXEL (TAG) & API Manager 400K+ · 4.3★ (281)
wp.org #9 ↑1 1 too low 9 
Price Based on Country for WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.8★ (262) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 1 too high 10 
Jetpack CRM – Clients, Leads, Invoices, Billing, Email Marketing, & Automation 30K+ · 4.3★ (152)
wp.org #10 ↓1 11 
Advanced Coupons for WooCommerce – BOGO, Store Credit & WooCommerce Coupons 20K+ · 4.4★ (184)
wp.org #12 1 too low 12 Kadence Security – Password, Two Factor Authentication, and Brute Force Protection 700K+ · 4.6★ (3992)
wp.org #21 9 too low 13 
Say What? 40K+ · 4.3★ (92)
wp.org #13 ↓2 14 
Event Tickets and Registration 90K+ · 3.5★ (236) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 ↑2 3 too high 15 
Simply Static – The Static Site Generator 30K+ · 4.5★ (195)
wp.org #20 ↑4 5 too low 16 
NextMove Lite – Thank You Page for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.7★ (150)
wp.org #22 ↓2 6 too low 17 
Tracking Code Manager 90K+ · 4.1★ (58)
wp.org #18 ↑1 1 too low 18 
Redirection for Contact Form 7 200K+ · 4.7★ (275) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 5 too low 19 
Active Woot Products Tables for WooCommerce. 100% FREE 1K+ · 4.8★ (18) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 
Sign-up Sheets 1K+ · 4.8★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too high 21 Metorik – Reports & Email Automation for WooCommerce 9K+ · 5.0★ (20) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 7 too high 22 
SKT Templates – 100% Free Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 20K+ · 5.0★ (6) not PHP-currentheavy footprint thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↑2 7 too high 23 
Printful Integration for WooCommerce 50K+ · 2.5★ (97)
wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24 
Time Clock – A WordPress Employee & Volunteer Time Clock Plugin 500+ · 4.9★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #19 ↑2 5 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.