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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “realtime map”

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 “realtime map”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 of the top 20. 2 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

Block for Apple Maps shows at wp.org #2 but places #9 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 1K+ 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

RegistrationMagic – Custom Registration Forms, User Registration, Payment, and User Login places #8 on merit, 4.5★ from 459 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 AI Engine – MCP Server & AI Chatbot for WordPress, with Claude, ChatGPT & Gemini 90K+ · 4.9★ (874) wp.org #1 2 Better Messages – Chat Rooms, Group Chat, Private Messages & AI Chat Bots 10K+ · 4.8★ (142) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 ProfileGrid – User Profiles, Groups and Communities 5K+ · 4.6★ (236) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 AI Puffer – AI Chatbot & MCP Server for Claude and ChatGPT 10K+ · 4.6★ (166) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 MultiVendorX – WooCommerce Multivendor Marketplace AI Powered Solutions 2K+ · 4.8★ (432) wp.org #7 ↑2 2 too low 6 Bit integrations – Form Integration, Webhook, Spreadsheets, CRM, LMS & Email Automation 20K+ · 4.9★ (160) wp.org #11 ↑2 5 too low 7 BjornTech PayPal POS integration for WooCommerce 600+ · 5.0★ (18) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 RegistrationMagic – Custom Registration Forms, User Registration, Payment, and User Login 7K+ · 4.5★ (459) wp.org #22 ↑1 14 too low 9 Block for Apple Maps 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #2 7 too high 10 Object Data Sync for Salesforce Integration with WP, Woo, Gravity, WPForms, Ninja, CF7 & more 100+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #19 ↑1 9 too low 11 Beehive Analytics – Google Analytics Dashboard 20K+ · 4.5★ (13) wp.org #13 ↑1 2 too low 12 Promolayer – Popup Builder & Abandonment Preventer 1K+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #8 4 too high 13 BuddyPress Favorite Notification 80+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #10 ↑1 3 too high 14 Opti-Behavior – Self-Hosted Heatmaps, Funnels, A/B Testing & Smart Insights 1K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #15 ↑1 1 too low 15 Embedly 2K+ · 3.5★ (20) wp.org #20 ↑1 5 too low 16 Shiprocket 10K+ · 2.7★ (20) wp.org #9 ↑3 7 too high 17 Init View Count – AI-Powered, Trending, REST API 80+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #23 ↑1 6 too low 18 Live Traffic Analytics – Real-Time Visitor & Bot Tracking – Google Analytics Alternative 60+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↓5 6 too high 19 StoreSuite – Frontend Shop Manager for WooCommerce with AI – Product, Order, Coupon Management & Analytics Dashboard 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↑6 3 too high 20 DominoPost – Advanced Post Editor with AI Writer, Link Building Suite, Free Google Search Console & GA4 Analytics 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 ↑1 6 too high 21 Forerunner® AI Live Chat 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 4 too high 22 Fast Events 30+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 ↑1 4 too high 23 WS40 – Live Weather 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓3 2 too high 24 WordSocket — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #24

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.