wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “sendcloud”
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 “sendcloud”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 9 of the top 15. 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
Lindyship shows at wp.org #5 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its — 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
AfterShip Tracking – All-In-One WooCommerce Order Tracking (Free plan available) places #3 on merit, 4.8★ from 633 reviews, but shows at wp.org #10. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
Advanced Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce 70K+ · 4.5★ (355) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
CWILL (Formerly ParcelPanel) – Shipment Tracking, Tracking & Order Tracking for WooCommerce 7K+ · 4.9★ (538)
wp.org #4 2 too low 3 AfterShip Tracking – All-In-One WooCommerce Order Tracking (Free plan available) 7K+ · 4.8★ (633)
wp.org #10 ↓1 7 too low 4 
Sendcloud for WooCommerce: Automated Shipping, Branded Tracking & Returns 7K+ · 3.0★ (13) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #1 3 too high 5 
Sendcloud | Shipping & Dynamic Checkout Automation for WooCommerce 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #3 2 too high 6 
Shiptastic for WooCommerce 10K+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 ↓1 3 too low 7 
Storebird AI Chat for WooCommerce 30+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #13 ↓1 6 too low 8 
Rooster One 10+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 
Wallet Ready Gift Cards for WooCommerce by GiftRocketWP 10+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews
wp.org #14 ↓1 5 too low 10 Lindyship — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #5 5 too high 11 
Atelier – Cancel Order & Change Address for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #8 3 too high 12 
Dispatchio – Shipment Tracking for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #7 5 too high 13 
Riverty Payments for Woocommerce 100+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 ↓1 1 too high 14 
Newsletter for sendcloud — · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #11 ↓1 3 too high 15 
SendCloud 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 ↓1 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.