wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “serial numbers”

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 “serial numbers”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 7 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

Serial Numbers & License Keys for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #3 but places #15 on merit, a gap of 12 places. Its 20+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

GEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO places #6 on merit, 4.6★ from 683 reviews, but shows at wp.org #20. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Serial Numbers – Ultimate License Manager for Selling, Licensing & Securely Delivering Digital Content with WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.7★ (78) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #1 2

Serial Codes Generator and Validator with WooCommerce Support 700+ · 4.6★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #2 3

License Manager for WooCommerce 6K+ · 4.6★ (147) wp.org #5 2 too low 4

Min Max Quantities – Set Minimum/Maximum Quantity & Price Limits with Step Control for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (60) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #6 2 too low 5

Pay with Vipps and MobilePay for WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.8★ (13) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #4 1 too high 6

GEO Plugin by Squirrly SEO 30K+ · 4.6★ (683) wp.org #20 ↓1 14 too low 7

GSheetConnector – CF7 Google Sheets Connector & Save CF7 Entries to Database 40K+ · 4.4★ (129) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #9 2 too low 8

SMS Alert – SMS Notifications & OTP Login, COD Verification, Abandoned Cart Recovery 3K+ · 4.6★ (35) wp.org #10 2 too low 9

Software License Manager 900+ · 4.6★ (35) wp.org #12 3 too low 10

RepairBuddy – Repair Shop CRM & Booking Plugin for WordPress 400+ · 4.9★ (24) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #8 2 too high 11

Newsletters 2K+ · 4.7★ (246) throws errorsnot PHP-current wp.org #17 6 too low 12

Content Pilot – Autoblogging & Affiliate Marketing Suite 700+ · 3.6★ (36) not PHP-current wp.org #14 2 too low 13

Print Anywhere & Create PDFs of Order Receipts, Invoices, Labels & More. 1K+ · 4.7★ (18) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #21 ↓1 8 too low 14

Key Manager – Effortlessly sell license keys, game keys, pin codes, gift cards, and more with WooCommerce 200+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #7 7 too high 15

Serial Numbers & License Keys for WooCommerce 20+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 12 too high 16

Data Tables – present your data in clean, customizable tables 100+ · 5.0★ (2) thin reviews wp.org #13 3 too high 17

Bangladeshi Payments Mobile – MFS Gateway, QR Code, Advance COD Protection, Thermal POS Invoicing & WhatsApp Suite 1K+ · 5.0★ (3) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #19 2 too low 18

Felix Serial Number Warranty and License For WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #11 7 too high 19

Spotrebiteľské práva pre WooCommerce 300+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #16 ↓1 3 too high 20

Codulon License & Serial Manager Lite — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #15 ↑1 5 too high 21 S Status Exporter 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #18 3 too high 22

OrderGuard 300+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #24 ↓1 2 too low 23

Serial Number for Contact Form 7 2K+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #22 ↓1 1 too high 24

Sulado Odstúpenie a reklamácie for WooCommerce 70+ · 0.0★ (0) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews wp.org #23 ↓1 1 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.