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

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 “regression”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 20. 1 plugin is 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

Lagersystem.dk: Parcelpickup locator for Woocommerce shows at wp.org #11 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 40+ installs carry it up the search order; its 3.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 8708 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Ninja Forms – Contact Form Builder with Calculators, Quizzes, Signatures & AI Form Builder 500K+ · 4.4★ (1397) wp.org #4 3 too low 2 SEOPress – AI SEO Plugin & On-site SEO 300K+ · 4.8★ (1267) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 VRTs – Visual Regression Tests 800+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #1 2 too high 4 User Admin Simplifier 10K+ · 5.0★ (31) wp.org #3 1 too high 5 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #6 ↑1 1 too low 6 WebChange Detector: Visual Regression Testing & Visual Checks After Updates 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708) wp.org #18 ↑1 11 too low 8 Grids: Layout builder for WordPress 2K+ · 5.0★ (21) wp.org #12 4 too low 9 CheckView – Form & Checkout Testing 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 Set Price Note (Units, Offers, Editions) for WooCommerce 600+ · 4.7★ (3) wp.org #9 1 too high 11 Who Changed It? – Activity Log & Audit Trail 100+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #15 4 too low 12 F FameTheme Demo Importer 30K+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #7 ↓1 5 too high 13 Speed Analyzer – Speed Test & Performance Audit 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #14 1 too low 14 WPMissionControl 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 4 too high 15 PatchOn Agent 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 2 too high 16 WebChange Detector for MainWP 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↑1 1 too low 17 Responsive Checker & Device Preview – Mobile Responsive Testing, Simulator & Developer Tools 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↑1 2 too low 18 SiteHale 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↑1 2 too high 19 Aftercare — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↑1 3 too low 20 BePlus Support Snapshot 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↑1 3 too low 21 Volixta SSL & Security Headers – Free SSL Certificates, HTTPS & Mixed Content Fixer 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #20 ↑1 1 too high 22 S SpamBanana – AI Spam Protection 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↑1 1 too high 23 Lagersystem.dk: Parcelpickup locator for Woocommerce 40+ · 3.0★ (2) wp.org #11 12 too high 24 oik bwtrace 20+ · 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.