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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “qr code shortcodes”

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 “qr code shortcodes”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 13 of the top 20. 4 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

Master QR Code Generator – Fast & Easy QR Code Solution shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links places #4 on merit, 4.8★ from 1322 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Kaya QR Code Generator 10K+ · 4.4★ (38) wp.org #1 2 Events Manager – Calendar, Bookings, Tickets, Appointments and more! 60K+ · 4.2★ (551) wp.org #8 6 too low 3 QR Code Composer – Automatic QR code generation 3K+ · 4.2★ (9) wp.org #2 1 too high 4 PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322) wp.org #20 ↓3 16 too low 5 Stylish Price List – Price Table Builder & QR Code Restaurant Menu 3K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #12 ↓2 7 too low 6 QR Code Woocommerce 900+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #3 3 too high 7 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #21 ↑2 14 too low 8 Customer Reviews for WooCommerce 80K+ · 4.8★ (1539) wp.org #23 15 too low 9 Qyrr – simply and modern QR-Code creation 2K+ · 3.8★ (21) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 QR Redirector 4K+ · 4.3★ (11) wp.org #4 6 too high 11 QR code MeCard/vCard generator 2K+ · 4.5★ (8) wp.org #6 ↑1 5 too high 12 Jim Soft Swiss QR Invoice 500+ · 5.0★ (9) wp.org #9 3 too high 13 Event Booking Manager for WooCommerce – Sell Tickets, Event Registration, RSVP & Event Calendar 7K+ · 4.5★ (167) wp.org #17 ↓3 4 too low 14 WPify Woo – Withdrawal, CRN/VAT, QR payments, Heureka and more for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (49) wp.org #15 ↓2 1 too low 15 Dynamic QR Code – generator 5K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #14 ↓2 1 too high 16 Magic Login Mail or QR Code 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #16 17 EffortLess QR Code Generator 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 ↑9 7 too high 18 Bangladeshi Payments Mobile – MFS Gateway, QR Code, Advance COD Protection, Thermal POS Invoicing & WhatsApp Suite 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #18 ↓7 19 Master QR Code Generator – Fast & Easy QR Code Solution 400+ · 3.0★ (3) wp.org #7 ↓1 12 too high 20 Wallet Up – Cash App, Venmo, PayPal, Zelle & QR Code Payments 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↑5 7 too high 21 QR Code Generator & Scanner – Dynamic QR Codes for WordPress 80+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too high 22 QR Code Management 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑4 11 too high 23 Czech QR Payments for WooCommerce 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓2 1 too low 24 Flex QR Code Generator 90+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓1 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.