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

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 “simulator”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 10 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

Funbutler Booking System shows at wp.org #13 but places #20 on merit, a gap of 7 places. Its 100+ 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

Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation places #7 on merit, 4.8★ from 150 reviews, but shows at wp.org #14. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 Shipping Simulator for WooCommerce 6K+ · 5.0★ (40) wp.org #1 2 Campos Checkout Brasileiro para WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.9★ (45) wp.org #2 3 BjornTech Swish for WooCommerce 2K+ · 4.6★ (20) wp.org #4 1 too low 4 Easy Appointment Booking & Scheduling Plugin – Webba Booking Calendar 2K+ · 4.9★ (159) wp.org #10 ↓1 6 too low 5 WPC Product Timer for WooCommerce 3K+ · 4.8★ (24) wp.org #5 6 MKL Product Configurator for WooCommerce – 2D & 3D Live Preview 2K+ · 4.8★ (42) wp.org #7 ↓1 1 too low 7 Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation 2K+ · 4.8★ (150) wp.org #14 7 too low 8 WPC Estimated Delivery Date for WooCommerce 10K+ · 4.0★ (9) wp.org #3 5 too high 9 B Boxy WooCommerce Custom Redirect After Checkout 500+ · 5.0★ (6) wp.org #16 ↓1 7 too low 10 Advanced Shipping Manager 40+ · 5.0★ (5) wp.org #11 ↑1 1 too low 11 Gaming-Plus Game Server Status 20+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #8 ↑1 3 too high 12 Aplazame 500+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #6 ↑1 6 too high 13 Debugger & Troubleshooter 90+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #9 ↓1 4 too high 14 Responsive Checker & Device Preview – Mobile Responsive Testing, Simulator & Developer Tools 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #12 2 too high 15 Bulk Export Import Images SEO Attributes 20+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 5 too low 16 W WST Date Simulator — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #15 ↓1 1 too high 17 C Checkout Simulator for WooCommerce — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓1 1 too low 18 Advanced Shipping Rate Builder – Table Rate, Conditional & Weight Based Shipping 40+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #19 ↓1 1 too low 19 RankJet AI-Powered SEO & Ranking Growth 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓2 5 too low 20 Funbutler Booking System 100+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #13 7 too high 21 Appza builder 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↓1 4 too high 22 SentraIP 40+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓2 1 too high 23 HaywoodTech Conditional Shipping for WooCommerce — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #22 ↓2 1 too high 24 Solar Energy Simulator 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓2 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.