wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “shipping timer”
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 “shipping timer”, we and wp.org disagree on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 of the top 20. 8 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
Speedy And Econt Shipping shows at wp.org #9 but places #23 on merit, a gap of 14 places. Its 100+ installs carry it up the search order; its 5.0★ average from 2 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.
Buried gem
Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets places #9 on merit, 4.9★ from 4132 reviews, but shows at wp.org #17. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
HurryTimer – An Scarcity and Urgency Countdown Timer for WordPress & WooCommerce 20K+ · 4.8★ (170)
wp.org #2 1 too low 2 
Countix Sales Countdown Timer 5K+ · 4.4★ (26)
wp.org #1 1 too high 3 
Finale Lite – Sales Countdown Timer & Discount for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.7★ (151)
wp.org #4 1 too low 4 
ShopLentor – All-in-One WooCommerce Growth & Store Enhancement Plugin 80K+ · 4.5★ (278)
wp.org #10 6 too low 5 
Discount Rules and Dynamic Pricing for WooCommerce 9K+ · 4.7★ (248) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #8 3 too low 6 
Popup Builder & Popup Maker for WordPress – OptinMonster Email Marketing and Lead Generation 1M+ · 4.3★ (821) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #7 1 too low 7 
Product Badge, Label, Countdown Timer for WooCommerce – Sale Booster 5K+ · 4.8★ (30) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #5 2 too high 8 
Freetop – Free Shipping Bar for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.7★ (40) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #6 2 too high 9 Essential Addons for Elementor – Popular Elementor Templates & Widgets 1M+ · 4.9★ (4132) not PHP-current
wp.org #17 8 too low 10 
WPC Free Shipping Bar for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.2★ (13) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #3 7 too high 11 
Store Vacation Lite for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.6★ (189) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #15 4 too low 12 
Product Labels For Woocommerce (Sale Badges) 10K+ · 4.6★ (54) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #11 1 too high 13 
HashBar – Announcement, Notification Bar & Popup Campaign 9K+ · 4.2★ (38)
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 
WowStore – Store Builder & Product Blocks for WooCommerce 4K+ · 4.6★ (113) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #18 4 too low 15 
Advanced Product Labels for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.8★ (252) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #24 9 too low 16 
Popup builder with Gamification, Multi-Step Popups, Page-Level Targeting, and WooCommerce Triggers 70K+ · 5.0★ (7) thin reviews
wp.org #14 2 too high 17 
WPC Added To Cart Notification for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.9★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #12 5 too high 18 
Magical Shop Builder – WooCommerce Template Builder for Elementor | Shop, Cart, Checkout & Product Page Builder 3K+ · 5.0★ (9) thin reviews
wp.org #19 1 too low 19 
StoreGrowth – Upsell, BOGO, Quick View, Direct Checkout & Side Cart for WooCommerce 2K+ · 5.0★ (7) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #13 6 too high 20 
CartPops – WooCommerce Side Cart, Cart Drawer & Cart Popup 4K+ · 4.2★ (26) throws errorsnot PHP-current
wp.org #20 21 
WPC Variation Bulk Editor for WooCommerce 1K+ · 4.3★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #21 22 
Discount Rules for WooCommerce – Disco | Dynamic Pricing, Conditions, Bulk, Bundle, BOGO 5K+ · 4.2★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #22 23 Speedy And Econt Shipping 100+ · 5.0★ (2) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #9 14 too high 24 
wModes – Catalog Mode, Product Pricing, Enquiry Forms & Promotions | for WooCommerce 800+ · 5.0★ (4) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #23 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.