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

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 “salon”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 4 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

SKT Templates – 100% Free Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg shows at wp.org #8 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 20K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 6 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory places #12 on merit, 4.8★ from 138 reviews, but shows at wp.org #23. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Widgets for Google Reviews 1M+ · 4.9★ (2667) wp.org #2 1 too low 2 Salon Booking System – Appointment Booking for Salons, Barbershops & Spas 2K+ · 4.4★ (187) wp.org #1 1 too high 3 Booking for Appointments and Events Calendar – Amelia 90K+ · 4.6★ (793) wp.org #3 ↑5 4 Appointment Booking Plugin – LatePoint | Calendar & Scheduling for WordPress 100K+ · 4.9★ (106) wp.org #4 ↓2 5 Online Scheduling and Appointment Booking System – Bookly 60K+ · 4.4★ (586) wp.org #6 ↓3 1 too low 6 Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155) wp.org #9 ↑5 3 too low 7 Cost Calculator Builder 20K+ · 4.5★ (393) wp.org #10 ↑5 3 too low 8 Easy Appointments 10K+ · 4.3★ (131) wp.org #5 ↓1 3 too high 9 Inavii Social Feed – Live Social Proof Gallery 9K+ · 5.0★ (17) wp.org #7 ↓2 2 too high 10 Stylish Price List – Price Table Builder & QR Code Restaurant Menu 3K+ · 4.7★ (117) wp.org #13 ↓1 3 too low 11 Easy Appointment Booking & Scheduling Plugin – Webba Booking Calendar 2K+ · 4.9★ (159) wp.org #11 ↓1 12 Classified Listing – AI-Powered Classified ads & Business Directory 9K+ · 4.8★ (138) wp.org #23 11 too low 13 WP Maps – Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, Mapbox, Store Locator with Search, Filters & Listings 60K+ · 4.3★ (122) wp.org #14 ↓1 1 too low 14 Availability Datepicker – Booking Calendar for Contact Form 7 – Input WP 10K+ · 4.1★ (42) wp.org #18 4 too low 15 SKT Templates – 100% Free Templates for Elementor & Gutenberg 20K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #8 ↓1 7 too high 16 Rox Appointment Booking – Event, Calendar & Appointment Scheduling 2K+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #12 ↓6 4 too high 17 WPS Bookings for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.5★ (43) wp.org #19 ↓2 2 too low 18 Booktics – Appointment Booking Calendar for Service Businesses 700+ · 4.2★ (13) wp.org #15 ↓4 3 too high 19 Hydra Booking — Appointment Scheduling & Booking Calendar 2K+ · 4.4★ (9) wp.org #16 3 too high 20 Appointment Booking Plugin for WooCommerce | Online Booking Calendar & Service Manager 200+ · 4.4★ (11) wp.org #20 ↓1 21 Creavi Appointment Booking Calendar 90+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Date Picker For Contact Form 7 4K+ · 3.9★ (7) wp.org #17 5 too high 23 Gutena Accordion – Beautiful FAQ Accordion Block 5K+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #24 ↓4 1 too low 24 Casa Quick Salon Book — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 3 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.