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

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 “sensei”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 12 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

Sensei LMS Certificates shows at wp.org #2 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 21 places. Its 4K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 1.0★ average from 1 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes places #10 on merit, 4.8★ from 393 reviews, but shows at wp.org #22. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Sensei LMS – Online Courses, Quizzes, & Learning 9K+ · 3.5★ (40) wp.org #1 2 Masteriyo LMS – LMS Course Builder, Quizzes & Certificates 6K+ · 4.8★ (184) wp.org #3 1 too low 3 WidgetKit for Elementor – Lightweight Elementor Addons, Widgets & Templates 7K+ · 4.5★ (35) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Noptin – Newsletter, New Post Notifications & Email Automation 10K+ · 4.5★ (120) wp.org #5 1 too low 5 ProfilePress – Paid Membership, Online Courses (LMS), Ecommerce, User Registration & Login Form, User Profile & Restrict Content 100K+ · 3.1★ (938) wp.org #6 1 too low 6 Advanced Form Integration — Connect Forms to 300+ Apps 9K+ · 4.8★ (91) wp.org #11 ↑1 5 too low 7 FuseWP – WordPress User Sync to Email List & Marketing Automation (Mailchimp, Constant Contact, ActiveCampaign etc.) 2K+ · 4.9★ (25) wp.org #7 8 AJAX Login and Registration modal popup + inline form 3K+ · 4.7★ (120) wp.org #14 ↑7 6 too low 9 Loggedin – Session Manager, Limit Concurrent Logins & Force Logout 8K+ · 4.9★ (112) wp.org #15 ↓1 6 too low 10 LifterLMS – WP LMS for eLearning, Online Courses, & Quizzes 10K+ · 4.8★ (393) wp.org #22 ↓2 12 too low 11 AutomatorWP – No-Code Workflow Automation, Integration & Webhooks Plugin, now with AI 6K+ · 4.8★ (202) wp.org #17 ↓1 6 too low 12 GamiPress – Gamification plugin to reward points, badges & ranks in WordPress, now with AI 10K+ · 4.9★ (493) wp.org #16 ↓1 4 too low 13 Knit Pay – Cashfree, Instamojo, Razorpay, PayPal and more 2K+ · 4.9★ (100) wp.org #23 10 too low 14 Database for Contact Form 7 7K+ · 4.2★ (14) wp.org #8 6 too high 15 VdoCipher: Secure Video Player and Hosting 2K+ · 4.2★ (14) wp.org #9 ↑1 6 too high 16 Broadcast 1K+ · 4.9★ (214) wp.org #24 8 too low 17 Livid – Video Hosting 300+ · 5.0★ (3) wp.org #18 1 too low 18 Teydea Login Security – Password Policy, Complexity Rules & Expiration 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #12 ↓2 6 too high 19 myCred Addons – Ultimate myCred Modules To Support WordPress Gamification and Loyalty Rewards 400+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #10 ↑1 9 too high 20 Experience API for TutorLMS by GrassBlade 200+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #20 ↓2 21 Experience API for LifterLMS by Grassblade 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #21 ↓2 22 Experience API for LearnPress by GrassBlade 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #19 ↓2 3 too high 23 Sensei LMS Certificates 4K+ · 1.0★ (1) wp.org #2 21 too high 24 Experience API for Sensei LMS by GrassBlade 20+ · 2.0★ (1) wp.org #13 ↓1 11 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.