wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “schedules”
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 “schedules”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 7 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
Missed Schedule Post Publisher shows at wp.org #12 but places #22 on merit, a gap of 10 places. Its 6K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 3 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Easy Updates Manager places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 726 reviews, but shows at wp.org #16. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Simply Schedule Appointments 50K+ · 5.0★ (155)
wp.org #1 2 
UpdraftPlus: WP Backup & Migration Plugin 4M+ · 4.8★ (8708)
wp.org #2 3 
TablePress – Tables in WordPress made easy 600K+ · 5.0★ (4625)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
WooCommerce 7M+ · 4.5★ (4833) throws errorsnot PHP-currentheavy footprint
wp.org #3 1 too high 5 
WPvivid — Backup, Migration & Staging 900K+ · 4.9★ (1568)
wp.org #6 1 too low 6 
Schedule Post Changes With PublishPress Future: Unpublish, Delete, Change Status, Trash, Change Categories 100K+ · 4.5★ (172)
wp.org #5 1 too high 7 
LiteSpeed Cache 7M+ · 4.8★ (2778)
wp.org #7 8 
The Events Calendar 600K+ · 4.2★ (2461)
wp.org #8 9 
SchedulePress – Auto Post & Publish, Auto Social Share, Schedule Posts with Editorial Calendar & Missed Schedule Post Publisher 10K+ · 4.6★ (201)
wp.org #9 10 Easy Updates Manager 300K+ · 4.8★ (726)
wp.org #16 6 too low 11 
WP-Optimize – Cache, Compress images, Minify & Clean database to boost page speed & performance 1M+ · 4.8★ (2617)
wp.org #17 ↑1 6 too low 12 
Social Media Auto Poster – Schedule & Publish to Buffer 7K+ · 4.5★ (125)
wp.org #11 ↓1 1 too high 13 
WP STAGING – Backups & Restore, Migration & Clone Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups 100K+ · 4.8★ (2470)
wp.org #24 ↓3 11 too low 14 
Timetable and Event Schedule by MotoPress 30K+ · 4.3★ (69)
wp.org #10 ↑1 4 too high 15 
Backup Migration 80K+ · 4.9★ (1338)
wp.org #23 8 too low 16 
PublishPress Revisions: Duplicate Posts, Submit, Approve and Schedule Content Changes 10K+ · 4.6★ (66)
wp.org #13 3 too high 17 
WP Crontrol 300K+ · 4.4★ (167)
wp.org #15 2 too high 18 
Import and export users and customers 70K+ · 4.7★ (259)
wp.org #21 3 too low 19 
Radio Station by netmix® – Manage and play your Show Schedule in WordPress! 1K+ · 4.6★ (30) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #19 20 
Publish to Schedule 3K+ · 4.3★ (23) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #18 ↓1 2 too high 21 
Booking Package 10K+ · 4.0★ (15) thin reviews
wp.org #22 1 too low 22 Missed Schedule Post Publisher 6K+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #12 10 too high 23 
Yoga Schedule Momoyoga 1K+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #14 9 too high 24 
Snack Missed Schedule 200+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews
wp.org #20 4 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.