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

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 testing”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

WPMissionControl shows at wp.org #14 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 6 places. Its 20+ 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.

merit plugin wp.org
1 VRTs – Visual Regression Tests 800+ · 4.6★ (9) wp.org #1 2 Complianz GDPR/CCPA Cookie Consent Banner 1M+ · 4.7★ (1667) wp.org #5 3 too low 3 User Admin Simplifier 10K+ · 5.0★ (31) wp.org #3 4 FakerPress 10K+ · 4.9★ (205) wp.org #7 3 too low 5 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 WebChange Detector: Visual Regression Testing & Visual Checks After Updates 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #2 4 too high 7 CheckView – Form & Checkout Testing 1K+ · 5.0★ (8) wp.org #4 3 too high 8 WP Attachments – Smarter File Management & Download Lists 3K+ · 4.5★ (43) wp.org #9 1 too low 9 Shared Albums for Google Photos 500+ · 4.9★ (10) wp.org #8 1 too high 10 WP Site Checker – Speed, Security & QA Monitoring 10+ · 5.0★ (7) wp.org #11 1 too low 11 MediaPress 3K+ · 4.7★ (33) wp.org #21 ↓1 10 too low 12 Attribute Stock for WooCommerce – Shared Stock & Variable Quantities (Lite Version) 2K+ · 4.6★ (18) wp.org #18 ↓1 6 too low 13 Speed Analyzer – Speed Test & Performance Audit 100+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #12 1 too high 14 FooGallery Migrate 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #15 1 too low 15 WebChange Detector for MainWP 30+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #10 5 too high 16 Static Site Exporter 400+ · 3.5★ (12) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 Responsive Checker & Device Preview – Mobile Responsive Testing, Simulator & Developer Tools 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 4 too high 18 ووسلام – همگام سازی ووکامرس و باسلام 6K+ · 4.3★ (4) wp.org #20 ↓1 2 too low 19 Variolab – A/B Testing — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↓1 2 too high 20 WPMissionControl 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #14 6 too high 21 PatchOn Agent 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 ↓1 5 too high 22 VizProof Timeline — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↑1 1 too low 23 oik bwtrace 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓1 4 too high 24 Directorist – WPML Integration 400+ · 2.0★ (1) 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.