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

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 “restock”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 6 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

Direct Payments WP – Receive Payments with Forms shows at wp.org #16 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 50+ 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

Email Marketing for WooCommerce by Omnisend places #3 on merit, 4.9★ from 168 reviews, but shows at wp.org #7. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Back In Stock Notifier for WooCommerce | WooCommerce Waitlist Pro 20K+ · 4.7★ (122) wp.org #1 2 WC Cancel Order 5K+ · 4.9★ (23) wp.org #2 ↑1 3 Email Marketing for WooCommerce by Omnisend 40K+ · 4.9★ (168) wp.org #7 4 too low 4 PDF Builder for WooCommerce. Create invoices,packing slips and more 2K+ · 4.7★ (145) wp.org #6 2 too low 5 ShopEngine Elementor WooCommerce Builder Addon – All in One WooCommerce Solution with eCommerce Templates & Woo Widgets 100K+ · 4.6★ (212) wp.org #8 3 too low 6 WebToffee EU Order Withdrawal Button for WooCommerce 1K+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #3 ↓1 3 too high 7 Direct Payments for WooCommerce – Bank Transfer, Mobile Money, Crypto and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Payments 800+ · 5.0★ (10) wp.org #5 2 too high 8 YITH WooCommerce Waitlist 3K+ · 3.2★ (26) wp.org #10 2 too low 9 WPC Restock Alerts for WooCommerce 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 5 too high 10 Direct Invoices – Invoicing & Payment Requests for WordPress 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #12 2 too low 11 Notifications on Discord for WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #14 3 too low 12 SVG Editor: Upload & Change Colors 100+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #11 1 too high 13 StoreAgent – WooCommerce AI Chatbot & WooCommerce MCP 600+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #20 ↓1 7 too low 14 Actionwear products sync 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 5 too high 15 D Datascoop – Smart Restock — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↑1 4 too low 16 Restock Notifier For WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 3 too high 17 StoreDisplay – Product Display Layouts for WooCommerce 80+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 S Sawir Restock Notifier for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↑1 3 too low 19 Tech Vaseegrah 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #17 2 too high 20 Digages Restock Alert — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 3 too low 21 SDP Custom Order Status for WooCommerce 70+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #18 3 too high 22 JoeBucci Restock Alerts for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 2 too low 23 B Beltoft In-Stock Notifier for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24 Direct Payments WP – Receive Payments with Forms 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 8 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.