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wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “skip bin”

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 “skip bin”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 11 of the top 20. 3 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

Substack Importer shows at wp.org #3 but places #12 on merit, a gap of 9 places. Its 1K+ installs carry it up the search order; its 2.8★ average from 4 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal places #5 on merit, 4.8★ from 397 reviews, but shows at wp.org #19. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin wp.org
1 IP2Location Country Blocker 30K+ · 4.1★ (128) wp.org #1 2 IP2Location Redirection 7K+ · 4.3★ (43) wp.org #2 3 PowerPress Podcasting plugin by Blubrry 20K+ · 4.6★ (231) wp.org #7 ↓1 4 too low 4 Vigilant – 100% Free Security Suite: Firewall, 2FA, Login, Headers, Scanner… 3K+ · 5.0★ (24) wp.org #6 ↓1 2 too low 5 Security Plugin, Firewall & Malware Scanner with Auto Removal 40K+ · 4.8★ (397) wp.org #19 ↓4 14 too low 6 OpenStation – Admin Dashboard Notes, Custom Dashboard, AI Assistant & PWA 1K+ · 5.0★ (23) wp.org #10 ↓1 4 too low 7 Bit CRM: Sales CRM Manage Lead, Contact, Deal, Invoice, Client Portal & Collect Payment 300+ · 5.0★ (4) wp.org #8 ↓1 1 too low 8 Eastern Skip Hire Volume Calculator — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #4 4 too high 9 B Bin Tracker Online — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #5 4 too high 10 QRAuth – Passwordless & Social Login 40+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #9 ↓1 1 too high 11 Midtrans-WooCommerce 5K+ · 4.0★ (4) wp.org #12 ↓2 1 too low 12 Substack Importer 1K+ · 2.8★ (4) wp.org #3 9 too high 13 AR Back To Top 10+ · 5.0★ (2) wp.org #20 7 too low 14 Sudwire Newsroom – Local News from Official Sources 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #13 1 too high 15 Airworthy – PHP Compatibility & Upgrade Checker 200+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #11 ↑2 4 too high 16 BFG Tools – Extension Zipper 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #18 ↓4 2 too low 17 Maestro: The Inline Admin Menu Editor 10+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #15 2 too high 18 BANKpay+ Instant Bank Payments for WooCommerce (EUR) 20+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #14 ↓2 4 too high 19 WPiko AI Chatbot – ChatGPT Assistant & Customer Support 50+ · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #16 3 too high 20 Unkfrank Media Library Audit — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #22 ↓5 2 too low 21 LeanRoles – User Tags & Role Performance Audit — · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #23 ↓5 2 too low 22 ambera Theme Builder 100+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #24 ↓4 2 too low 23 AVIF Local Support 10+ · 0.0★ (0) wp.org #17 ↓6 6 too high 24 Automated Shipping for EasyPost WooCommerce – Bulk Labels, Easy Returns, Zero Manual Work — · 5.0★ (1) wp.org #21 ↓5 3 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.