wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “referral program”
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 “referral program”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 14 of the top 20. 3 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
Partnero – Affiliate & Referral Program Management for WordPress shows at wp.org #7 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 16 places. Its 100+ 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
PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 1322 reviews, but shows at wp.org #18. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Affiliate Program Suite — SliceWP Affiliates 10K+ · 4.9★ (111)
wp.org #1 ↑1 2 
Gratisfaction- Loyalty, Rewards , Referral, Birthday and Giveaway Program 600+ · 4.8★ (205) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 ↑1 3 
Points Management System For Gamification, Ranks, Badges, and Loyalty Rewards Program – myCred 10K+ · 4.6★ (472) not PHP-current
wp.org #3 ↓2 4 
Loyalty Points Rewards and Referral for WooCommerce – WPLoyalty 3K+ · 5.0★ (310) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
ReferralCandy for WooCommerce – Advanced Referral & Affiliate Program 300+ · 4.9★ (211)
wp.org #8 ↓1 3 too low 6 
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative 500K+ · 4.1★ (759)
wp.org #11 ↑1 5 too low 7 PrettyLinks – Affiliate Link Management, URL Shortener, Link Cloaking, Tracking & Branded Short Links 200K+ · 4.8★ (1322)
wp.org #18 11 too low 8 
Smash Balloon Social Photo Feed – Easy Social Feeds Plugin 1M+ · 4.9★ (4358)
wp.org #17 9 too low 9 
Wallet System for WooCommerce – Digital Wallet, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL), Instant Cashback, Referral program, Partial & Subscription Payments 1K+ · 4.9★ (65) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #9 ↑1 10 
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 #12 ↓1 2 too low 11 
Affilia – Affiliate Program 500+ · 4.7★ (14) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 5 too high 12 
Affiliates 2K+ · 4.5★ (137)
wp.org #22 ↓1 10 too low 13 
Coupon Affiliates – Affiliate Plugin for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (77) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 
Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #21 7 too low 15 
Like Button Rating ♥ LikeBtn 3K+ · 4.4★ (273) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #23 ↓1 8 too low 16 
Social Boost: Giveaways, Instant win and Contests. Grow followers, shares, subscribers, traffic, referrals, sales and more 100+ · 5.0★ (25)
wp.org #24 ↓1 8 too low 17 
Gratisfaction- Contests Giveaways Referral Loyalty Rewards and Birthdays Program 20+ · 5.0★ (16) thin reviews
wp.org #20 3 too low 18 
RewardsWP – Loyalty Points & Referral Program for WooCommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #4 14 too high 19 
Affiliates for WooCommerce – Affiliate Program, Referral Tracking & Commission Payouts 300+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #10 ↓1 9 too high 20 
FluentAffiliate – Affiliate Program Management Suite, Affiliates Manager 2K+ · 4.6★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #13 7 too high 21 
EchoRewards – Refer a Friend Rewards Program for WooCommerce 300+ · 3.9★ (8) thin reviews
wp.org #15 6 too high 22 
Simple Points and Rewards for WooCommerce – Create a Loyalty Program 400+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #14 8 too high 23 Partnero – Affiliate & Referral Program Management for WordPress 100+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #7 ↑1 16 too high 24 
Sawir Referral – Refer a Friend for WooCommerce 20+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #19 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.