wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “scheduled”
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 “scheduled”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 8 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
Scheduled Posts Showcase shows at wp.org #12 but places #24 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 30+ installs carry it up the search order; its 4.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 1962 reviews, but shows at wp.org #15. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More 1M+ · 4.9★ (4940) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #1 2 
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #2 3 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8706)
wp.org #7 ↑1 4 too low 4 
SchedulePress – Auto Post & Publish, Auto Social Share, Schedule Posts with Editorial Calendar & Missed Schedule Post Publisher 10K+ · 4.6★ (201)
wp.org #5 1 too low 5 
Missed Scheduled Posts Publisher by WPBeginner 20K+ · 4.9★ (60)
wp.org #4 1 too high 6 
MWW Scheduled Post Trigger 60K+ · 4.4★ (27)
wp.org #3 3 too high 7 
WPvivid — Backup, Migration & Staging 900K+ · 4.9★ (1568)
wp.org #9 ↑1 2 too low 8 
Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172)
wp.org #8 ↓1 9 Advanced Database Cleaner – Optimize & Clean Database to Speed Up Site Performance 100K+ · 4.9★ (1962)
wp.org #15 ↓5 6 too low 10 
All-in-One WP Migration and Backup 5M+ · 4.5★ (7676)
wp.org #14 ↑8 4 too low 11 
BackWPup – WordPress Backup & Restore Plugin 400K+ · 4.0★ (1323) not PHP-current
wp.org #10 ↑3 1 too high 12 
WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167)
wp.org #11 ↓2 1 too high 13 
Admin and Site Enhancements (ASE) 200K+ · 5.0★ (423)
wp.org #18 ↑2 5 too low 14 
Scheduled & Automatic Order Status Controller for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #6 8 too high 15 
Speed Optimizer – The All-In-One Performance-Boosting Plugin 1M+ · 4.2★ (641)
wp.org #13 ↓1 2 too high 16 
PublishPress Revisions: Duplicate Posts, Submit, Approve and Schedule Content Changes 10K+ · 4.6★ (66)
wp.org #16 ↑9 17 
My Calendar – Accessible Event Manager 20K+ · 4.7★ (159)
wp.org #21 ↓6 4 too low 18 
Slim Maintenance Mode 10K+ · 5.0★ (63)
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 
WP Import Export Lite 40K+ · 4.0★ (113)
wp.org #20 1 too low 20 
Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.7★ (248) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #22 2 too low 21 
Force Refresh 4K+ · 5.0★ (12) thin reviews
wp.org #23 ↓1 2 too low 22 
Scheduled Sales, Discounts and Omnibus Price History for WooCommerce 60+ · 5.0★ (8) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #24 ↓8 2 too low 23 
Missed Schedule Post Publisher 6K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too high 24 Scheduled Posts Showcase 30+ · 4.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↑2 12 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.