wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “shoutout”
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 “shoutout”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 17 of the top 20. 5 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
ShoutOUT SMS for WooCommerce shows at wp.org #4 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 8 places. Its 10+ 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
Hubbub Lite – Fast, free social sharing and follow buttons places #2 on merit, 4.7★ from 173 reviews, but shows at wp.org #12. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.
WP Super Minify • Minify, Compress and Cache HTML, CSS & JavaScript 8K+ · 4.1★ (73)
wp.org #1 2 Hubbub Lite – Fast, free social sharing and follow buttons 30K+ · 4.7★ (173)
wp.org #12 10 too low 3 
Simple Calendar – Google Calendar Plugin 50K+ · 3.8★ (397) heavy footprint
wp.org #11 8 too low 4 
WC Multiple Email Recipients 4K+ · 5.0★ (10) thin reviews
wp.org #7 3 too low 5 
Better Click To Share – Shareable Quote Boxes for X (Twitter) 6K+ · 4.8★ (48)
wp.org #14 9 too low 6 
Ocean Extra 400K+ · 3.3★ (67)
wp.org #10 4 too low 7 
Ocean Social Sharing 60K+ · 4.5★ (11) thin reviews
wp.org #8 1 too low 8 
Vibe Testimonials Shoutouts – Wall of Love & Slider 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #2 6 too high 9 W wpDirAuth 500+ · 4.7★ (12) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #18 9 too low 10 
Coinsnap Bitcoin Donation 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews
wp.org #3 7 too high 11 
Mega Backing — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement
wp.org #5 6 too high 12 ShoutOUT SMS for WooCommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviewsstale but ranked
wp.org #4 8 too high 13 
Visitor Analytics and Lead Generation Plugin by Inbound Rocket 10+ · 4.1★ (9) throws errorsnot PHP-current thin reviews
wp.org #16 3 too low 14 
TETA+PI — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #6 8 too high 15 
Lock Your Updates Plugins/Themes Manager 300+ · 5.0★ (5) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #20 5 too low 16 R Resend Welcome Email 1K+ · 3.7★ (9) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #21 5 too low 17 
Ocean Product Sharing 20K+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews
wp.org #9 8 too high 18 
ShoutOut 30+ · 5.0★ (2) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #13 5 too high 19 
Koji Block – Embed Block for Koji Apps 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #15 4 too high 20 
GERRG Frequently Bought Together for Woocommerce 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #17 3 too high 21 M Monero WooCommerce Extension 50+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews
wp.org #19 2 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.