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

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

Power Coupons for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #7 but places #19 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 30K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred places #11 on merit, 4.6★ from 472 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 signals wp.org

PW WooCommerce Gift Cards 20K+ · 4.7★ (195) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Loyalty Points Rewards and Referral for WooCommerce – WPLoyalty 3K+ · 5.0★ (310) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #2 3

Gift Up Gift Cards for WordPress and WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (235) wp.org #4 ↑1 1 too low 4

Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create Loyalty Programs, Reward Customer Purchases, Referral Points, User Badges, and Gamification 6K+ · 4.5★ (180) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #5 ↑1 1 too low 5

Advanced Coupons for WooCommerce – BOGO, Store Credit & WooCommerce Coupons 20K+ · 4.4★ (184) wp.org #12 ↑12 7 too low 6

Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #8 ↑4 2 too low 7

WC Shop Sync – Square Payment Gateway and Product Synchronization for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.5★ (42) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 ↑2 1 too high 8

Simple Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create a Loyalty Program 400+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #3 ↑1 5 too high 9

Gift Cards (Gift Vouchers and Packages) (WooCommerce Supported) 1K+ · 4.7★ (115) wp.org #15 ↑2 6 too low 10

Smart Coupons For WooCommerce Coupons 30K+ · 4.7★ (133) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #11 ↑2 1 too low 11

Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred 10K+ · 4.6★ (472) not PHP-current wp.org #20 ↓13 9 too low 12

WebToffee Gift Cards for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.5★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #10 ↑1 2 too high 13

XT Points & Rewards for WooCommerce 60+ · 4.5★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #16 3 too low 14

Event Tickets with Ticket Scanner 1K+ · 4.8★ (24) not PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #21 7 too low 15

Bonus for Woo 100+ · 4.8★ (22) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #18 3 too low 16

Milo Subscriptions – Subscriptions for WooCommerce and Recurring Payments 200+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews wp.org #19 ↑3 3 too low 17

Square Sync for WooCommerce | Comprehensive Data Sync Between Square and WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (11) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #14 ↑1 3 too high 18

Wishlist for WooCommerce 800+ · 4.7★ (6) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #13 ↑1 5 too high 19

Power Coupons for WooCommerce 30K+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 ↑2 12 too high 20

RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #9 ↑1 11 too high 21 B Beltoft Gift Cards for WooCommerce 40+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #17 ↑2 4 too high 22

GIFT4U – Gift Cards All in One for Woo 200+ · 4.7★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 1 too low 23

Init User Engine – Gamified, Fast, Frontend-First 30+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #24 1 too low 24

WooPOS Gift Cards for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (1) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓2 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.